Meet the Team: Facilities Manager Reggie Mongeur

Reggie’s grandfather used to tell him, “If you’re going to do something, be the best at it.” This advice has guided Reggie throughout his life, noting that if he doesn’t know it yet, he soon will.

Reggie has continuously sought out—and also found himself at—the crossroads of some of the most perilous world events in recent history, giving him an ability to remain calm and level headed in moments that would give most of us pause. Reggie grew up in Vermont and started working at the age of fourteen as a carpenter’s apprentice. That same year he spent six months in Austria learning German, but his studies were cut short when he was abruptly sent home immediately September 11, 2001.

He recalls being at the airport in Austria, with little information about what was happening, watching the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers fall. This indelible moment drove Reggie’s decision to enlist in the U.S. Army. Reggie comes from a family of deep military service; every male in his family has served in the U.S. Army, dating back to the Minutemen who fought in the Revolutionary War. His father served in the Vietnam War, and his grandfather in the Korean War. 

Reggie enlisted at the age of 17, the same day his 27-year-old brother also enlisted. Reggie chose to go into the infantry, serving in the 3^rd Infantry Division, 2^nd Ranger Battalion, based in Fort Benning, Georgia. Reggie served in the U.S. Army from 2002 through 2006, including three active tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom, including two full, 18-month tours. He was in Baghdad in April of 2003 when the statue of Saddam Hussein toppled to the ground, which came to symbolize the end of Hussein’s rule. Reggie was hospitalized during his third tour, and his injuries brought him home at the age of 22.

After his service, he worked at an electric company, learning to wire wind turbines throughout 37 states. Reggie continued learning new skills, taking classes in contracting, plumbing, and electrical, working in those fields for several years. 

Reggie accepted the position of Facilities Manager at the Farnsworth Art Museum in 2022, and he, his wife, and their son moved to Midcoast Maine from Vermont. Reggie says it is especially important to him that his son have roots and friends in his community. The family has three dogs, including an Australian Shepherd Blue Heeler named Honey, and together they enjoy the many hiking trails they can access from their home. Reggie is an avid outdoor enthusiast who loves fishing, camping, and outdoor survival skills.