A ribbon cutting marked the opening of Bechtel’s Engineering Execution Center in Knoxville, Tenn. Pictured, from left, are Glenn Jacobs, Angela McAlpin, Sujal Lagowala, John Howanitz, Craig Albert, Wes Hines, and Mark Field. (Photo: Bechtel)
International engineering, construction, and project-management company Bechtel, which is headquartered in Reston, Va., opened its newest office, the Engineering Execution Center, in Knoxville, Tenn. The office—the second Bechtel has opened stateside in the last few months—will provide engineering support for the company’s numerous mission-based projects, and it is the second new U.S. office opened by Bechtel in the past few months—the other being in Chandler, Arizona.
Ribbon cutting: The Engineering Execution Center was officially opened on October 4 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Attendees included Knox County mayor Glenn Jacobs; Mark Field, Knoxville Chamber senior vice president of investor development and experience; Craig Albert, Bechtel’s president and chief operating officer; John Howanitz, president of Bechtel’s nuclear, security, and environmental (NS&E) global business unit; Angela McAlpin, manager of engineering for Bechtel NS&E; Sujal Lagowala, Bechtel NS&E manager of functions; and Wes Hines, head of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville.
History in Tennessee: At the event, Jacobs noted, “Bechtel has a long history in Tennessee, from supporting nuclear energy to environmental cleanup and national defense and security. . . . We are excited to continue this Tennessee partnership here in Knox County.”
Albert added, “Bechtel has a great history of working in Tennessee and we have partnered with customers across the state for over 40 years. We have built nuclear power plants like Watts Bar and Browns Ferry, we are advancing the mission at the Y-12 National Security Complex, and we lead the nation’s top aeronautical design research at Arnold Air Force Base in Tullahoma.”
Bechtel missions: Howanitz explained how the Engineering Execution Center will complement Bechtel’s various missions: “Bechtel executes very important missions from national security to environmental cleanup and nuclear energy. . . . Our Bechtel NS&E core team will be available here in Knoxville in our new Engineering Execution Center. This new office will provide depth, agility, and flexibility to help our customers when they need us.”
University of Tennessee: Hines spoke to how the University of Tennessee fits into the picture: “Bechtel has had a positive influence on our nuclear engineering department for decades, and I am excited that Bechtel has chosen Knoxville as home to its new engineering office. If you are interested in nuclear there is not a better place in the United States or in the world.” He continued, “We have had a close relationship with Bechtel over many years, and we look forward to the close and growing relationship we will have in the future.”
Now recruiting: Bechtel is currently recruiting engineers for positions at the Engineering Execution Center. More information is available on the company’s jobs website.
