In Orbit: A KBR Podcast

Creating and maintaining a consistent culture, identity and values can be tricky for a big company, especially when you have nearly 40,000 employees and operate in close to 30 countries worldwide. The onus is on the company to build community while operating in many different, often complex regulatory environments. In this episode, KBR Chief People Officer Jenni Myles speaks about the challenges of building and strengthening corporate culture in never-ending unprecedented times, about how recent U.S. policy changes provided the catalyst to accelerate KBR's people strategy, and about the importance of creating spaces for employees to belong, connect and grow.

To maintain the strategic advantage, the U.S. Department of Defense needs solutions and technologies that are innovative, creative and on the cutting edge. And they need them fast. It's no wonder they turn to KBR's digital engineering experts and the capabilities delivered at the KBR DREAMM Lab (Digital Research, Engineering, Acquisition and Materiel Management). In this episode, Gus Jordt, Air Force acquisitions digital engineering lead with KBR Mission Technology Solutions, discusses the DREAMM Lab, current trends in digital engineering, and his thoughts on what's next in the field.

Mobile phones, electric cars, laptops, not to mention ceramics, glass, lubricants, refrigeration, nuclear and more. The world runs on lithium. And a more sustainable supply is needed to catch up to skyrocketing demand. Listen as Claudia Pudack, Director of Technology for KBR Critical Minerals, discusses critical vs. rare earth minerals, how KBR technologies can help overcome lithium supply-and-demand challenges, and what we can expect going forward for the mineral many are calling “the new oil.”

Policy and tech are upending global norms and affecting pretty much everything. The outlook for the energy industry could be especially chaotic. In this episode, Tomi Dania, regional director – Americas for KBR Advisory Consulting, shares his thoughts on the big challenges and disruptions — like tariffs, executive orders, artificial intelligence and more — that are driving the U.S. energy outlook and how they could affect the global energy transition.

The results of refining processes are all around us, from the fuel in our cars, to the plastics that keep food fresh, to the asphalt on our streets, and beyond. But while refining in general is ubiquitous, there are challenges, including cyclical demand, efficiency and emissions requirements, and maintaining profitability. In this comprehensive interview, Brian Heasley, KBR's global director of Refining and Clean Fuels, discusses current obstacles refiners face, including policy hurdles and barriers to entry for clean fuel, and how they can capitalize on opportunities through product diversification, circularity and refining residue oil.

Protecting space means protecting life as we know it. That's not hyperbole. So how do we do that? One solution in KBR's space portfolio is Iron Stallion, part of a renowned software suite that helps governments around the world find, watch, track and report on the movement of objects in space. Listen as Missy Thomas and Liz Pearce of KBR Mission Technology Solutions discuss this game-changing technology and its critical role in the new race for space.

Becoming a global employer of choice is a journey. Recruiting the best and brightest — and keeping them — requires a next-gen, people-centric approach to talent acquisition. Don't miss Javier Rodriguez, senior director of Global Talent Acquisition at KBR, as he discusses the evolving talent landscape, the increasingly important role of technology, the need for close alignment between talent acquisition and business needs, and more in this all-new episode.

From the bottom of the ocean to Earth's orbit, KBR's people are helping solve some of humankind's greatest challenges, including preparing astronauts for the rigors of life on the moon and eventually Mars. In this episode, Tiffany Swarmer from KBR's Science and Space business unit, discusses her work as intravehicular activity escape and survival specialist and mission controller, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to conduct space research in the Arctic, and the far-reaching effects her research could have not only for space exploration but also for life on earth.

People of earth, the wait is over! We're excited to launch an all-new season of KBR's “In Orbit” podcast with an episode about KBR's evolved Mission Technology Solutions business. Our first guest of 2025 is Erik Biebighauser — vice president of strategic growth, veteran, and Christmas tree farmer — who spoke with us about the dynamic capabilities of KBR Mission Tech which were enhanced by the acquisition of LinQuest in 2024. Erik gets candid about mission technology, service, purpose and the evolving national security landscape in an episode you don't want to miss!

On our season 4 finale, “In Orbit” is going nuclear — in a good way! Experts agree that to achieve the sustainable energy system of the future, nuclear power is an absolute must-have. In this episode, we're joined by Scott Davis, advanced nuclear fission and fusion consultant with Frazer-Nash Consultancy, a company in the KBR family. Scott explains how different kinds of nuclear reactions work, why nuclear energy isn't scary, and the challenges and opportunities specifically on the horizon for nuclear fusion.

KBR has a long history of helping improve the resilience of service members, including mitigating the effects of extreme conditions like high altitude. But the work doesn't stop with defense and space. In this episode Dr. Bianca Cerqueira, lead senior technical professional in data science with KBR Science and Space, shares about her remarkable career and about the further-reaching implications of KBR's health and human performance work into civilian clinical care and improved health outcomes.

KBR has a long history of supporting active-duty soldiers and veterans and their families, not just through the solutions we deliver the U.S. and allied governments around the world, but also through the opportunities we provide to build engaging civilian careers. KBR military transition talent acquisition experts, Matt Majoros and Luke Bistor, joined us just prior to Veterans Day 2024 to talk about what it means to be a military-friendly company, the strategy behind recruiting former service members, and why it's crucial for the Team Behind the Mission®  to appeal to talent with a mission mindset.

In our lightning-speed world, change is the only constant, and as David Bowie said, we've got to “Turn and face the strange!” Our guest for this episode is the excellent Dr. Brandon Robertson, specialist in change management and readiness with Frazer-Nash Consultancy, a KBR company. Listen along as Dr. Robertson speaks about the different kinds of change organizations experience, the importance of a people-centered approach to change, and how change management can make businesses better.

Large language models (LLMs) are having a moment, and it's high time we talked about it. We were thrilled to welcome Dr. Tariq Ahmad, natural language processing expert at Frazer-Nash Consultancy, to break down the basics of LLMs, the boons and pitfalls, and some ideas on how to make better use of this game-changing technology than writing fake Bon Jovi lyrics.

It's the finale of our special miniseries on the global energy transition. We had the pleasure of speaking with Henrik Larsen, KBR vice president of Clean Ammonia and Hydrogen, who outlines the current state of the energy transition, points of resistance, and what the big opportunities look like, particularly around value chain development. Check it out!

“In Orbit” guests are some of the foremost experts in their fields and address some of the greatest challenges facing the world today. But they're also really interesting people! In our first Profiles in Leadership episode, we were thrilled to speak with Todd May, senior vice president of KBR's Science and Space business and avid puzzler. Listen as Todd talks about his extraordinary career in space and aeronautics, what's on the horizon in the industry, and some examples of when pop culture gets space science wrong.

It's finally happening. We're finally talking about AI! It's one of the hottest topics on the planet, and our guest, KBR expert Dr. Ben Ochoa, breaks it all down, including what AI is, what it's not, the potential breakthroughs and benefits on the horizon, and why we should or should not all be terrified. You don't want to miss this episode!

In the second instalment of our miniseries on the energy transition, we're joined by Shane Tierling, chief technical advisor for KBR's Integrated Solutions business unit in the Americas region. Listen as Shane takes us through an in-depth discussion of the exciting (and critical) role hydrogen has to play in the development of energy transition solutions, and KBR's unique position to effectively deliver those solutions.

The energy transition is here! We're excited to kick off a special three-part series we'll be doing over the next few weeks on the global energy transition. Our guest Umesh Baliga —chief technical engineer of Sustainable Technologies for KBR's Integrated Solutions business in the Americas region — spoke with us about the energy transition value chain, the key opportunities and barriers, and a few of the solutions that will be helping pave the way to net zero.

A big part of KBR's deep domain expertise for energy, chemical and industrial projects is its proprietary equipment (PEQ) and the technologies needed to deliver valuable end products — from biofuels, to blue and green ammonia, to hydrogen, and many others. In this episode, MS Raju, senior director of operations for the Proprietary and Modular Equipment service line of KBR's Technology business unit, breaks down exactly what propriety equipment is, how KBR differentiates itself through its PEQ offerings, and how the PEQ business is primed to support KBR's broader growth strategies.

In the digital age, words are currency — and we're all writers! In this episode, host John Arnold is joined by KBR communications manager Rebecca Lewis for a discussion about how KBR's new Content Community of Practice is exploring the art of the possible with the written word, building consistency in how writing is done at KBR, and safeguarding a global brand in the process.

Arguably some of the most important work KBR does today supports the physical and mental well-being of defense and space professionals. In this episode, Dr. Holly Robles, senior program manager in Behavioral Health with KBR's Science and Space business unit, discusses some of KBR's work in health and human performance, the risk factors associated with various behavioral health issues, and the biggest challenges in the field.CONTENT WARNING: This content could be triggering for some listeners. It discusses mental health, suicide and suicidal ideation.

Marketing and communications (marcom) are the tools brands use to tell their story to the world. If you're not doing them right, then your business and stakeholders can pay the price. KBR gets that. Our guests for our season 4 premier, KBR marketing experts Philip Ivy and Jessica Burnett, tell us how KBR marcom empowers its team members and is deploying digital innovation to work strategically with all points of the business and propel it forward.

You've heard of “airworthy” and “seaworthy.” But what makes a system cyberworthy? Find out on this episode of In Orbit, featuring Krishaan Wright, cybersecurity lead with KBR's Government Solutions International APAC. Krishaan discusses cyberworthiness, current threats to the cyber terrain, and a cutting-edge new solution, Achilles, that has the potential to be a game changer in the defense sector and beyond.

KBR's employee resource groups (ERGs) are central to the company's commitment to being a place where people can belong, connect and grow. This October, KBR is launching a new ERG, ADAPT, which is dedicated to disability inclusion. Elgan Iorwerth, co-chair of ADAPT, sat down with us to talk about the group's important mission of creating a community of support and educating, empowering and enhancing the experiences of individuals with disabilities of all kinds across KBR.

Data runs the world — and MANY of the solutions KBR delivers for its clients, including the work our experts do to advance defense and national security interests. We're thrilled to feature one of those experts on the latest episode of the podcast. Kim Cates, senior data scientist with KBR's Defense Systems Engineering business, spoke with us about her journey in data science, how her cutting-edge work is helping solve customer problems, and how KBR's culture enables her to take charge of her career.

The aviation industry is one of the fastest-growing contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, companies like KBR are doing their part to stem the tide with cutting-edge technologies like PureSAF(SM), launched in alliance with Swedish Biofuels. Dr. Monica Normark, director of Biofuels with KBR's Technology business, gave us a primer on the benefits of biofuels and explained how PureSAF has the potential to be a game changer for the aviation industry and other sectors as well.

Facts: 1) Humans are going back to the moon — and beyond! 2) KBR people are helping make it happen. 3) We're here to talk about it in our second episode featuring KBR's ongoing support of NASA and the Artemis lunar missions. We sat down with Kelsey Livesay from KBR's Science and Space business to talk about her and her team's involvement with Artemis and other crucial missions at this incredible moment in spaceflight history.

We took a little summer break, but we're back with all-new content! First up, we had a chance to speak with Michael Kluck, senior project manager-Engineering for KBR's Integrated Solutions business, who put some of his pandemic downtime to good use and wrote a book, “Modularization: The Fine Art of Offsite Preassembly for Capital Projects.” Mike tells us about about his journey from subject matter expert to author of what is both a hands-on guide to modularization and a study on effective project management.  Don't miss it!

Cyberattacks are more sophisticated and happening with more frequency than ever before. They're also costing companies and governments billions. Fortunately, KBR has a team of well-respected, highly certified experts helping to meet those challenges. Our guest on this episode, Derrick Nixon — vice president of Cybersecurity Solutions at KBR — talks us through KBR's cutting-edge capabilities and world-class workforce that are helping customers respond to and defend against threats in the cyber domain.

As part of our summer series on KBR employee resource groups (ERGs), and in commemoration of Juneteenth, In Orbit is proud to feature MERGE — KBR's Minority Employee Resource Group for Empowerment, which was created to advance our culture of inclusion and diversity through support and connection of underrepresented groups across the company. Host John Arnold sat down with MERGE chair and founder, Johnnie Richardson, to talk about the ERG's mission, the phenomenal work they've already done in the areas of education, mentorship and philanthropy, and their exciting future plans.

This summer, In Orbit is proud to feature several of KBR's employee resource groups (ERGs) and the important work they do to create environments where our people can belong, connect, grow and bring their whole selves to work. To kick things off, we're highlighting Pride and Allies, our ERG supporting the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies. Host John Arnold is joined by Gracie Orr, small business liaison officer for KBR's Science and Space business unit and a leader of Pride and Allies, to discuss the ERG's mission, progress and recent global activities, and what's on the docket for Pride Month.

When you hear the term “circular economy,” you might think about closing the loop on waste. And that's important! But what about the concept of closing the loop on conventional economic business models, particularly in infrastructure? Host John Arnold is joined this week by Rocio Rutter, KBR principal of Circular Economy and Sustainability, in a conversation about circularity in infrastructure and how it can function as a true change engine that can help companies and governments transform their strategies, operations and business models, both economically and environmentally.

If you thought talking about ESG and sustainability couldn't be entertaining, guess again! Our guest this week is the very funny Adam Kramer, vice president and corporate sustainability officer at KBR. Sitting down with host John Arnold, Adam talks about KBR's commitment to ESG and how the business is following through, how KBR is using data to report its progress to the world, and why ethical ESG action is essential for businesses. Special shoutout to surprise guest, Kirsten Mackenzie, KBR's director of Corporate Sustainability!

Humankind is going back to the moon! Over the next few years, NASA's Artemis program will open up a new frontier of space exploration for future generations, and KBR's people are helping pave the way. With us to talk about KBR's involvement with Artemis and his role as a ground controller at NASA Johnson Space Center is Patrick Ream, a member of KBR's Science and Space team. Patrick tells host John Arnold about his lifelong fascination with space, how KBR is letting him live his dream of helping humankind reach the stars, and what we can all expect as the Artemis missions progress. You won't want to miss it!

Interested in learning about what KBR's up to in Australia and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region? We've got you covered! This week, guest host Leanne Stace speaks with Paul Kahn, president of KBR Government Solutions International, and Rob Hawketts, vice president of Government Solutions APAC, for a wide-ranging conversation about KBR's busy year so far in Australia and APAC. As Australians say, we've been flat out like a lizard drinking! Topics include KBR's capabilities in the region, the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce, the vision for KBR in the region going forward, and much more!

What does it mean to be a female-friendly company? Find out firsthand from some of the women of KBR. This special episode celebrates KBR being named to Forbes' list of the World's Top Female-Friendly Companies for the second straight year and highlights the amazing strides we're making to be a great company for women. The episode is led by Reshma Bhat, chair of KBR's ASPIRE employee resource group in the United Arab Emirates, and features Dr. Euan McCulloch, director of operations in the Middle East for KBR's Integrated Solutions International business unit, and several of the women of KBR, who share their personal experiences and insights about being part of our team of teams.SPECIAL NOTE:The In Orbit team would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their help and encouragement in producing this episode.Preeti Santani, for assistance with content organization for the episodeRudolf D'Souza, for supporting ASPIRE UAEPayal Singh, ASPIRE UAE co-chairASPIRE leaders Aiesha Maxwell and Christina Halkias

Interesting content alert! Well, actually, it's ALL interesting on “In Orbit.” But this week, we're thrilled to feature Scott Hudson, chief UH-1 pilot with Kord Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of KBR. Listen as Scott recounts his remarkable flight career, which started at age 13 and has included flying missions for the U.S. Army in Europe during the Cold War, fighting fires with the U.S. Forest Service, training the next generation of pilots, and amassing more than 11,000 flight hours in helicopter cockpits. You won't want to miss it!

What is Zero Harm? At KBR, it's a way of life! Since its inception, the platform has resulted in unprecedented global HSSE (health, safety, security and environmental) performance and is also the foundation of KBR's ESG culture, commitments and initiatives. Ultimately, Zero Harm is about doing what's right to protect our people, planet, communities and business. This week, host John Arnold is joined by Paul Stephenson, director HSSE, to talk about the journey to Zero Harm and this year's global Zero Harm Day celebrations, happening on February 22.

“Where's my stuff and what's its status?!” These are common questions asked by KBR customers and potential clients from the public to private sector and across various industries. Not knowing the answer is out of the question. Fortunately, KBR has a solution for that. Host John Arnold is joined by Preston Hoeve, KBR contract principal investigator and program and project lead, to talk about COPERS — a next-gen situational awareness platform that puts critical information at the customers' fingertips to enable more effective decision-making — and that has the potential to be a true game changer.

Happy Holidays from the In Orbit crew! In our final episode of 2022, our hosts sit down with Philip Ivy, vice president of Global Marketing and Communications at KBR, in a discussion that highlights the important role marketing and communications plays in the life of KBR, the best-in-class services and solutions the team delivers internally and externally, and what's on the horizon in 2023 and beyond.

It seems like every other day, we're seeing stunning new images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The payoff of JWST's amazing discoveries is due to people like Michael Woronowicz — senior technical advisor of Aeronautical Engineering for the Science and Space segment of KBR's Government Solutions United States business — and this week's guest on In Orbit. In this episode, Mike sits down to talk about his two decades of work on JWST and the breakthroughs it's already wrought, as well as his continuing work on the groundbreaking observatory as it fulfills its mission more than a million miles from Earth.

The tools of the Fourth Industrial Revolution are changing asset management. But data means little without the expertise needed to understand it and maximize its value for customers. In this episode, co-host John Arnold sits down with Doug Hill, vice president of Operations for KBR's Readiness and Sustainment business, to talk about KBR's next-generation asset management platform, Asset Ikigai. Listen along as they discuss how KBR experts use Asset Ikigai to deliver data- and analytics-driven, risk-informed insights for customers, and how the platform figures into an exciting new KBR offering, Supply Chain as a Service.

Energy transition is back in the spotlight on the podcast, and in this episode host Lubna Salim speaks with Henrik Larsen, KBR's senior director of Energy Transition, about KBR's leadership in this area that is critical to the planet's future. Listen as they discuss KBR's energy transition capabilities today and plans for the future, the value chain for future green energy sources such as hydrogen and ammonia, and how KBR provides customers an early-mover advantage.

In Orbit is proud to feature members of the ONE KBR Technical Fellows program, a group of elite technical talent from across the global business. In this episode, cohost John Arnold is joined by Amber Iler, a member of the inaugural class of Tech Fellows, who discusses her acclaimed work in remote sensing — including her journey in the field, the problems her work is helping customers solve, and potential future breakthroughs — as well as her experience in the Tech Fellows program and the opportunities it creates.

Time flies when you're having fun! Hosts Lubna Salim and John Arnold look back on the first year of the In Orbit podcast. Listen along as they discuss favorite moments and episodes and tease some of the exciting content coming later this season. Don't miss it!

Climate action for businesses is no longer a nice-to-have, it's an imperative. In this conversation, Adam Pirlo — principal strategy and commercial consultant for Sustainable Solutions within KBR's Infrastructure Services Australia business and KBR's Net Zero Project lead — breaks down the difference between carbon neutrality and net zero, discusses why meaningful climate action has become essential for doing business, and offers a glimpse of KBR's comprehensive net-zero strategy.

What's an Energy Trilemma? Find out in part two of this special sustainability-focused thought leadership miniseries. Ben Sawford, KBR vice president of Sustainable Energy, discusses the major challenges of the current energy crisis, possible ways of navigating it, and opportunities for accelerating change.More episodes in this miniseries will follow in the coming months.

In this episode, we highlight the culture of innovation at KBR's Sustainable Technology Solutions (STS) business. Host Lubna Salim speaks with Gautham Krishnaiah, vice president of Innovation and Technology for STS, about how KBR solutions are helping customers meet their sustainability objectives and where those technologies and innovations are headed in the near future.

As Pride Month comes to a close, host Lubna Salim sits down with Samantha Fox, the chair of KBR's LGBTQ-focused employee resource group, Pride and Allies. In this conversation, Sam speaks about the importance of Pride Month, global Pride-related initiatives at KBR and upcoming launches of new Pride and Allies chapters around the world, and various ways people can educate themselves and get involved.

This week, host John Arnold sits down with Chad Stevens from KBR's Missile Defense and Aviation Systems group. Listen as they discuss missile defense, particularly the Patriot system, some of the work KBR does to support Patriot, as well as some of the related software solutions KBR has developed to keep missile defense systems at the forefront of innovation.Bonus content: Chad Stevens and guest Greg Turner discuss opportunities for professional development, connection and networking created by the KBR Leadership Association.