In Orbit: A KBR Podcast: Recent Episodes
KBR, Inc.
Though produced by KBR, this series is for anyone and everyone, inside or outside our business. In each new episode, we discuss what’s happening in the world and in various industries, covering everything from science, technology and engineering to sustainability, inclusion and diversity, and much more. Whatever the topic, our main focus is people, and our goal is to connect with each other, to learn new things, and to stay in each other’s orbit!
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 episode
Rudolf D'Souza, for supporting ASPIRE UAE
Payal Singh, ASPIRE UAE co-chair
ASPIRE 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.
In celebration of Pride Month in June, host Lubna Salim leads a candid conversation with Penny Voget and Joel Davies, both members of KBR’s Pride and Allies employee resource group. Listen as Penny and Joel share about their personal experiences and discuss their thoughts on Pride Month, the importance of people engaging and educating each other about their differences to build acceptance, and resources available for people looking to proactively overcome bias and become allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
This week on the podcast, host Lubna Salim is joined by Graham Hoar, vice president of Technology at KBR and leader of its global Ammonia, Syngas and Fertilizer business, for a discussion about blue ammonia technology. Listen as Graham tells us about what blue ammonia is, how it drastically reduces CO2, and why KBR’s superior blue ammonia process is a game-changer for customers and the environment.
In this episode of our miniseries highlighting the awesome capabilities of KBR’s Government Solutions business, host John Arnold is joined by Brian Young, vice president of the fast-growing Military Space Operations division within KBR’s National Technologies Group. Listen as Brian tells us about what military-space is, why it’s crucial to international security, and what KBR is doing to safeguard space from potential threats.
In the first part of a new series exploring KBR’s Government Solutions business, host John Arnold speaks with Travis Fitzgerald, chief training officer at KBR. Travis and his teams are responsible for planning and executing the training of NASA flight controllers, instructors and astronauts, primarily for operations on the International Space Station. Now, as part of an exciting agreement with NASA, Travis and KBR employees are also the first to train private teams at NASA facilities — including the first all-private mission to the ISS which launched on April 8 — helping usher in a new era of space exploration.
Closing out our special series celebrating women in business, host Lubna Salim speaks with Monica Ruiz, director of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Proprietary Equipment and Catalyst across KBR’s Technology business. In this conversation, Monica shares about her journey at KBR, discusses the great strides KBR has made in inclusion and diversity and promoting mental fitness, and offers insights and advice on leadership and on balancing personal life with a successful career.
In the second episode of our special series celebrating women in business, host Lubna Salim speaks with KBR’s vice president of Investor Relations, Alison Vasquez. Listen as they discuss the role of investor relations in building trust and credibility with the market, the importance of a strong company culture and measuring progress for improving parity, and Alison’s inspiring advice for women in business.
Don’t miss the final episode of this special miniseries in two weeks.
In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re launching a multipart series celebrating women in business. In the series opener, host Lubna Salim speaks with Natalie Kiser, vice president of Refining Technologies for KBR’s Sustainable Technology Solutions business, about her career experience, the importance of inclusion and diversity, and the strides KBR and the business world are making with regard to opportunities for advancement and parity for women.
New episodes in this miniseries will continue for the next few weeks.
In part 1 of this special sustainability-focused thought-leadership miniseries on the podcast, Ben Sawford, KBR's Vice President of Global Consulting – Energy Transition and Sustainability, discusses the art of the possible around global energy transition. Why does energy transition matter? What factors will drive it? What are the challenges? And what does the future look like if the world gets it right?
New episodes in this miniseries will be released quarterly.
In our first episode of 2022, host Lubna Salim speaks with Martin Simmonite, senior vice president of KBR’s Technology-Led Industrial Solutions (TLIS) business. The conversation marks the first anniversary of TLIS’s launch, and in it, Martin explains what the business is all about, with a special focus on the cutting-edge digital solutions, differentiated services and deep domain expertise his teams are delivering to customers around the world.
In our Season 1 finale, host John Arnold speaks with Dr. Begoña Vila, instrument systems engineer for the James Webb Space Telescope, about the landmark space observatory’s design, development and launch preparations. Dr. Vila also shares details about the telescope’s historic mission to help humankind solve the mysteries of our solar system, to see distant worlds, and to investigate the origins of the solar system.
NOTE: At time of recording, the telescope launch was scheduled for December 22. It is now scheduled for December 24.
In our first in-person interview since the podcast launched, host Joanna Bedford sat down (in the same room!) with the senior vice president of KBR’s Integrated Solutions – International business, Ahmed Al-Dadah. The discussion highlights Integrated Solutions – International’s exciting evolution over the past two years and details how it’s using digitalization, cutting-edge technology and deep domain expertise to deliver high-end, innovative engineering solutions for the world’s most complex energy projects, while also helping meet stringent safety and sustainability standards.
In this episode, host John Arnold sits down with Doug Jaton, program manager for KBR’s Technical Support Services Contract at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Earth Resources, Observation and Science (EROS) Center. Listen along as they talk about KBR’s role at EROS, specifically with the Landsat program — the longest and most comprehensive space-based record of the planet’s surface — and as they discuss what Landsat is, how it works and why it matters for the entire planet.
With the realities of human-caused climate change now undeniable, more and more governments and companies around the world are committing to curbing emissions and operating more sustainably. One of the most viable solutions to accomplish that is energy transition. In this episode host Joanna Bedford sits down with Ben Sawford, global vice president of Advisory Consulting at KBR, for a discussion about what energy transition is, what some of the different strategies involved are, and how KBR is emerging as a leading voice in the industry as interest in energy transition grows.
October 10 is World Mental Health Day. To mark the occasion, hosts Joanna Bedford and Lubna Salim are joined in this episode by Rebecca Clements, client success director at meQuilibrium, an app-based platform that helps users build resilience, face change and uncertainty, and manage stress through personalized action plans. Listen along as they discuss how supporting employee mental health and well-being is an absolute must for modern companies, as well as some of the helpful techniques for managing stress offered on the meQ app.
Plastic waste is a critical global problem. In this episode, host Lubna Salim speaks with Francis Tsang, senior director of Plastics Recycling Technology at KBR, about Hydro-PRT℠, a cutting-edge new plastics recycling solution licensed exclusively by KBR in partnership with Mura Technology. Listen along as they discuss how this innovative technology is helping create a true plastics circular economy.
In the final episode of our three-part inaugural series, you’ll learn more about co-host John Arnold and his journey with KBR. And you’ll hear his conversation with Byron Bright, president of KBR's Government Solutions business, and Leanne Huitson, chief of staff for Government Solutions EMEA, about the power of change. Listen along as the three discuss topics ranging from the ever-evolving landscape of government services, to the importance of inclusion and diversity, to how leadership and work styles could continue to evolve in the post-COVID world.
To commemorate the second anniversary of KBR’s global rebranding, we decided to launch In Orbit with a special three-part inaugural series, “State of Change,” that celebrates the power of change and discusses how big things can happen in a short time. In part two of that series, you’ll meet host Joanna Bedford, a gifted communicator and marketing specialist based out of KBR's Leatherhead UK office. And you’ll hear her fascinating conversation with Mona Bhagat, business development manager – Advisory Consulting, and Ulysses Goree, senior vice president leading Integrated Solutions – Americas, both of KBR’s Sustainable Technology Solutions business.
Welcome to In Orbit: A KBR Podcast! In commemoration of the second anniversary of KBR's global rebranding, we're kicking things off with a three-part series that celebrates the power of change and discusses how big things can happen in a short time. In the first episode, you’ll meet Lubna Salim — one of our hosts, who is an accomplished writer and marketing specialist based out of KBR’s Gurgaon, India office. And you’ll hear Lubna’s HSSE-focused conversation with Ella Studer, senior vice president of KBR’s Readiness and Sustainment business, and Nick Anagnostou, vice president of HSSE at KBR.