The U.S. government and its contractors are keenly focused on getting ahead of potentially devastating threats posed by polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, and by outdated critical infrastructure.
Susannah Kerr, senior vice president and general manager of federal and environmental solutions at Jacobs, spoke with GovCon Wire about how the company is tackling these challenges and helping its government customers solve them too. Kerr has been at Jacobs for more than 9 years, and she previously served as VP and federal operations manager.
Read below for her full Executive Spotlight interview.
GovCon Wire: Where are you seeing opportunities for expansion in the portfolio? What new capabilities or markets are you eyeing?
Susannah Kerr: We identified three catalysts for long-term growth — energy, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and global security — which present tremendous opportunities to expand our portfolio. For our government services clients, this means we can collaborate across the business more than ever before and offer full-service solutions to support their evolving needs.
In terms of energy, we’re helping clients change the way energy is generated, moved and used, decarbonizing even the hardest-to-change industries and making the crucial shift toward energy security. Installations, for example, are increasingly looking for ways to integrate sustainable energy sources while ensuring long-term resilience. It’s not just about finding new ways to generate energy — it’s about doing so securely and reliably for the future. This is also where cross-collaboration comes in, as we’re seeing more opportunities to partner with our energy and power teams to provide clients with more holistic solutions.
PFAS is another major catalyst for expansion because of how pervasive these long-lasting synthetic chemicals and other emerging contaminants are in every aspect of our environment. It’s a complex problem that requires comprehensive solutions to remove these substances from products, processes and supply chains or to remediate environmental and water contamination. This has become a major focus for the U.S. Department of Defense, where nearly 401 installations have identified PFAS contamination.
Lastly, government entities and private contractors are spending more than $2.5 trillion globally on defense and national security, positioning global security as another crucial growth catalyst. This is a continuously growing part of our business as we’re helping government clients address aging infrastructure and improve their access to the latest technology. Again, this is another area where we’re seeing tremendous opportunities to collaborate globally as we support our defense clients in places such as the U.K., Ukraine, South Korea, Poland and Australia.
By focusing on these catalysts and approaching our clients’ needs and goals holistically, we can deliver cohesive solutions, accelerate growth and deliver sustainable, resilient infrastructure, helping industries and clients future-proof their operations.
GCW: What factors or GovCon industry trends influence your growth strategy as you look toward the future?
Kerr: The biggest trend influencing our growth strategy is the need to transform procurement and contracting processes to improve operational efficiencies and infrastructure modernization. This is a complex issue with two areas we’re helping the government address. First, the need to rebuild the government’s supplies requires approaches like full Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management, or EPCM, delivery and other creative procurement strategies to expedite production schedules. Second, the tried-and-true procurement process the government currently uses limits the ability to access the latest technology and meet the needs of mission-critical projects. This is an opportunity to develop more private partnerships and support more inter-government relationships.
We recently co-presented at the Installations Innovation Forum with the U.S. Army to discuss the work we’re doing at Camp Humphreys in South Korea to improve the people organic base across installations, which we are also supporting and addressing requirements and strategies for enhancing human capital strategies to optimize capabilities at installations. This work includes collaboration with the U.S. Army, but also with other federal agencies to support operational optimization and modernization.
Another example is what we accomplished with the National Park Service for Yosemite National Park and Ellis Island. At Yellowstone, we delivered two projects focused on rehabilitating and redesigning wastewater treatment plants, or WWTPs, in El Portal and Tuolumne Meadows. At Ellis Island, we investigated, designed and oversaw the repair and rehabilitation of the historic seawall protecting the island’s perimeter and a constellation of historic structures. Due to the unique landscapes of historical landmarks, we worked closely with the NPS to deliver successful upgrades that maintained the historical integrity of the culturally sensitive locations, while introducing effective innovations to upgrade aging infrastructure and protect our national treasures landmarks for generations.
We’re also helping clients integrate new technologies into their operations. This includes advising on the adoption of new technologies, implementing digital transformation strategies and providing ongoing support. We’re focusing on cross-training our teams to build our digital and delivery capabilities, so we can help with current needs, as well as be prepared for future needs as our clients evolve their processes.
GCW: What do you think are the most pressing national security threats we’re facing today?
Kerr: I don’t think we can talk about national security without addressing the issue of aging infrastructure. Without updating critical infrastructure and leveraging the latest technology, governments are more vulnerable to a variety of threats from environmental impacts to cyberattacks.
As we look at the challenges that aging infrastructure poses, we must focus on energy security, decarbonization and transitioning away from older, less sustainable energy systems. The other component to consider is addressing sustainment needs for the facilities so they can continue operating as designed.
We’re currently working with the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center on an electrical microgrid study as part of the Navy’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program. The study will assess the Navy’s four public shipyards and develop proposed courses of action for ensuring up to 14 days of electricity and potable water in the event of a power grid or utility outage.
Addressing critical infrastructure challenges is further complicated as we see mounting pressure to do more with fewer resources. Tight budgets and rising demands require cost-effective, forward-looking infrastructure projects. It’s about balancing today’s needs with future sustainability and security while also addressing environmental and cyber threats risks.
GCW: How is Jacobs addressing these threats?
Kerr: When working with our clients, we’re looking at the entire ecosystem. This means simultaneously thinking about energy security, environmental impact and long-term resilience rather than tackling these challenges separately.
An essential part of the solution is having a programmatic mindset and that requires a combination of cross-training and cross-collaboration. We need to work more globally and holistically to deliver solutions.
For instance, working on military installations is not just about providing clean energy — it’s about making sure that the energy supply is secure and reliable and supports the long-term mission readiness of the facility. By working with other parts of the business to leverage their strengths and capabilities, we’re able to develop a thorough plan that considers future needs and anticipates potential challenges so we can prepare accordingly.
We’re also using digital and data-driven tools to make infrastructure more innovative and resilient and applying technologies like AI helps us identify issues early and prevent problems before they happen. These tools also help infrastructure be more responsive to evolving threats, whether that’s from environmental risks or cyberattacks.
In the Camp Humphreys example above, the key aspects of the program are using technology to facilitate installation management with a ‘decision support system.’
By integrating collaborative solutions and digital innovation into each project, we can help clients meet today’s challenges and prepare for what’s coming next. It’s about ensuring that infrastructure can stand the test of time, no matter what challenges arise.
