Clayton Harrison Protects and Serves

Growing up in Texas, he always imagined he’d be a professional musician.  

He was self-taught on the piano and took lessons to master the classical organ. 

Despite his love of music, his mom, who was an artist, advised him to pursue a different path.   

“Really she had the best intentions—she just didn’t want me to be a starving artist,” he laughs. 

He had an uncle who was in law enforcement and another who was a firefighter. 

“I remember them saying, pick one—and that’s how I pursued my 17-year career in public safety when I was based in Houston,” says Clayton Harrison.

Joining the tech industry ⚙️ 

Today Clay is a Windows Engineer on the Texas Department of Computer Resources (DCR).  

Clay is one of four engineers on the DCR build team that supports any new server on his client’s account.

Clay joined Atos in 2016 after nearly two decades in the public safety sector. He’s not a technical person so he had some adjustments to make while he learned on the job.   

“I had a law enforcement buddy who joined Atos and he introduced me to the company,” Clay says.   

“My transition from a government role to the private sector and becoming a government contractor has been a wild ride—one I wouldn’t trade for anything,” Clay says. 

“I’m thrilled to work at Atos—some of the most spectacular people I’ve ever met work for this company,” Clay says. 

Developing strong relationships🖇️

Clay says he’s loved every minute of his time with Atos.  

Last year when HR introduced a mentoring program, he immediately signed up to be in the pilot. 

“I wanted to understand how we do business at Atos,” he says. “Working on the PS&D side of the business it can feel like a bit of a silo,” Clay says.  

“Learning how we take a product to market and how we get in front of someone to turn a pitch into an opportunity was my real motivation for joining the mentee program,” he says.

Protecting and serving 👮♂️

Despite his eight-years with Atos, Clay is still a public servant.  In fact, he serves as a NY Police Department (NYPD) Reserve Officer, one day a week.   

Donning his uniform Clay may have a neighborhood beat or be assigned to work at a special event.  “I’m out there working with the public—that might mean helping a lost tourist or connecting with a person who is struggling with drugs or another challenge,” Clay says. 

There are some 5,000 reserve officers with the NYPD, who are serving because they have a love of the job and serving the public. 

Clay is very active with a fraternal organization, too. He’s a member of the Gay Officer Action League, which plays a key role in supporting the LGBTQ+ community and the city itself.  

“We’re making sure there’s equity for all,” Clay says.  His group lends a hand with targeted hate crimes to helping event organizers safely close a city block for a special event. 

“We spend a lot of time doing hands-on community support,” Clay says. For example, many LGBTQ+ children flock to New York City after falling out with their family members, falsely thinking they’ll be “safe” there. Many turn to drugs or the sex industry to survive.   

“We talk to the kids and other adults in need and offer them basic toiletries, clean clothing and refer them to food pantries where they can get a hot meal or shelters where they can sleep in a warm bed,” Clay says.

Balancing work and home 🍽️  

Clay loves living in New York City with his husband of 20 years Tim, and their Golden Retriever.   

“Did you know more than 200 languages are spoken here each day?” Clay asks. 

He says the culture, food, people, and energy are unlike any other place on the world—and he considers himself lucky to live there. 

Clay says his daily escape is cooking. “I’m Italian so Sunday dinners are a big thing for me—and I always look forward to a great meal,” he says.   

He doesn’t officially practice music these days, but he’ll jump at the chance to belt out a good Journey song at Karaoke. 

Clay loves protecting and serving both the Atos DCS clients and the public in NYC.