Cody Faul—Ambassador of Safety

When Deepwater Mechanic Cody Faul first started in the industry, safety wasn’t what it is today.  

“Only glasses were worn,” says Cody, “and sometimes on top of my head.” 

Cody has come a long way in his career since then, and so has his appreciation for safety. Last year, he was the leader of Stop Work Authority (SWA) submissions across the entire company. His commitment to safety is just one of the reasons he was selected as the 2023 Dwain “Hog” Carrell Field Employee of the Year.  

A native of Houma, Louisiana, Cody began working in a mechanic shop during his senior year at Terrebonne High School in 2006 where he learned the trade. In 2007, he began working at Oil States Industries. Cody worked for five years in the shop as a mechanic. He then travelled overseas for five years working with heavy equipment on projects such as commissioning, equipment installation, overhauls, equipment tear down and more.  

He travelled all over the world to places in Australia, Asia, Africa and South America which often presented unique challenges and language barriers. It was while working abroad that Cody really began to value the importance of safety. 

“I realized safety was not a priority in many other countries, so I had to be my own safety proponent.” 

In 2017, the work slowed down, and he left Oil States. He put his savings toward partnering with a friend to start a fabrication shop. Things went sideways, and he got pushed out of the business, losing everything he had invested in. 

Not one to be deterred, Cody soon began working for a compressor company based in Longview, Texas.  

“I was the only mechanic for them in South Louisiana which meant lots of time on the road,” says Cody. 

While he welcomed the work, Cody did not love being on the road. A year later, an old colleague from Oil States called about a job at Sparrows Group, so he jumped at the opportunity in 2019. After two years working as an on-call technician, the lead mechanic offered him an offshore position on a Talos asset working a 14/14 schedule which was more ideal for Cody and his young family.  

At some point during his work for Talos, Cody met Danos Business Development Rep. Bubba Himel. After Hurricane Ida, Bubba called Cody to offer his family supplies like water, fuel and tarps, a generosity that Cody greatly appreciated. In the following weeks, Bubba called to check on him which went a long way.  

“When I saw Bubba at the next crew change, I asked him what I had to do to get hired on with Danos. He put me in touch with Senior Account Manager Blake Habbit. Blake told me to let him know when I was ready to join the team.” 

Cody finished the year with Sparrows before giving his two-week notice on his last hitch. When he got back on land, he finished the paperwork Blake had set up for him. It was a seamless transition. He was able to stay at the same job and location with Talos where he still works the same 14/14 rotation. 

With 18 years of experience under his belt, Cody finds the technical aspect of his job to come naturally, and he’s figured out how to navigate the different personalities of the crew offshore.  

Now, one of the best aspects of his job is the two weeks he gets to spend with his family at home in Houma. He and his wife Maili have a nine-year-old son Daniel, and they take advantage of his time off doing outdoor activities together. They enjoy fishing, crabbing, kayaking, bike riding and camping, just to name a few. In addition, Cody and Maili have a strong Christian faith evidenced by the bible study lessons they host and through their service to the community.  

The Danos Difference 

Cody has enjoyed working with Danos and the team here saying, “The guys I’ve met have been incredibly helpful—people like Matt Bascle, Matt Kelso, Blake Habbit and Blake Westerman. They’ve shown tremendous support. They’re always quick to get me information or whatever I need.” 

“Blake Habbit has been an excellent account manager,” says Cody. “He’s hands down the best manager I’ve worked for.” 

Working in the industry over the years, people talk about Danos, but when he joined the team, Cody was still impressed to see it all firsthand.  

“You hear about how Danos is family oriented and supportive, and I finally get to see it’s all true. The owners and leadership have created a wonderful atmosphere.” 

Cody’s alignment with the company’s values is something that has made him stand out among his peers, with one coworker saying, “Cody just gets it. He gets what we’re trying to do with our values, especially from a service perspective and a safety perspective. He is constantly recognized by customers, account managers and fellow employees.” 

Another coworker says, “Cody is a great communicator around safety and around the way we do work. He’s willing to get up and teach people and carry the banner for safety.” 

According to Cody, what Danos does for its employees and the emphasis on safety really make them stand out as a company.  

“They tell employees to speak up, and I take that to heart,” he says. He believes that everyone can make an impact to improve safety, and he encourages others to speak up when they feel something isn’t right. 

 “I refuse to be the guy who will live with regret for not speaking up.”