Executive Mosaic is excited to bestow the 2023 Wash100 Award to Byron Bright, president of KBR Government Solutions. Bright is a seasoned government contracting veteran who this year exceeded expectations through his company’s dedication to providing technical assistance to all manner of U.S. military weapon systems, vehicles, aircrafts, as well as to space organizations and other markets.
Each year for the last 10, EM has elected the most deserving and influential GovCon and federal sector change-makers to the Wash100. 2023’s deliberations brought the strongest group of contenders yet, a crop of CEOs, technology experts, military officials and beyond who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, vision and reliability. Winners of the award are vetted equally for what they have already accomplished and their potential for greatness in the coming year.
Vote for Bright and your other most treasured Wash100 Award winners in the ongoing popular vote contest at Wash100.com. The competition closes on April 28 so don’t delay!
Bright is celebrating his fourth consecutive year of Wash100 recognition. The executive has been with KBR for nearly 13 years and has been president of the Government Solutions segment — which performs work in the defense, space and aviation markets, among others — for the last six. Previously, he held roles with the company such as senior vice president of operations and SVP of business development, infrastructure, government and power.
Prior to KBR, Bright was director of BD at Jacobs for half a decade and operations team manager at Procter and Gamble. Rounding out his resumé is time spent as a flight test engineer at the U.S. Air Force and a bachelor’s of science in engineering mechanics from the U.S. Air Force Academy. In 2022, Bright capitalized on this experience by leading his company to some major contract wins from the USAF.
The most significant was a pair of task orders announced in May 2022. Totaling $106 million, the two contracts require KBR to modernize and perform upkeep for the C-130 Hercules aircraft and offer guidance for cybersecurity strategy, engineering analysis and testing for the International Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System, Identification Friend or Foe and Mark XIIB System Program Office.
“With our highly experienced team, rich history and firm understanding of the C-130, KBR will continue to assist the Air Force in rapidly fielding effective, sustainable and cost-efficient capabilities for this tactical transport aircraft,” commented Bright.
Earlier in the year, in February, Bright maneuvered KBR to clinch a five-year, $207 million task order from the Department of Defense. Under the contract, KBR’s team is expected to provide engineering support and testing assistance — including simulation duties like surveillance, guidance, fire control and engagement decision logic — for the Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target missile apparatus.
“We’re proud to continue [missile engineering] support and to further our shared goal of protecting U.S. forces and allies through enhancing the capabilities of the PATRIOT missile system,” remarked Bright.
In an April 2022 Spotlight interview with ExecutiveBiz, Bright cited “technology, the philosophy of collaboration and presenting a team atmosphere” as the foundational values of KBR. He went on to discuss how a sense of diversity and openness in the company’s talent search has been crucial to its success.
“Over the past few years, we’ve really focused on connecting our vision with KBR’s workforce. We have implemented multiple new mechanisms for that, which starts with intern programs and how we reach out to colleges and universities, especially in the STEM career fields. There’s a great deal more reaching out to diverse colleges and universities to create a wider pool of talent,” Bright shared.
Demonstrating the breadth and wideness of scope of KBR’s capabilities, the company closed out 2022 with a November win of two contracts from the U.S. government to assist with the analysis of spacecraft system acquisition programs. Amounting to a combined $120 million, the task orders call for data analysis and modeling activities, acquisition technical assistance, data management and integrated program management.
“This win is indicative of KBR’s strategic commitment to being a trusted advisor to the government in all aspects of space system acquisition,” said Bright.
These are just a few examples from KBR and Bright’s busy year, but they are indications of the productivity and success they will evince in 2023. Congratulations to Byron Bright and his invaluable team for their Wash100 Award.
