In Orbit: A KBR Podcast

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 Digital Engineering Lab. In this episode, Gus Jordt, Air Force acquisitions digital engineering lead with KBR Mission Technology Solutions, discusses KBR digital engineering solutions, current trends, and his thoughts on what’s next in the field.

NOTE: At time of recording, the KBR facility was referred to as the "DREAMM Lab." The facility mentioned is actually the KBR Digital Engineering Lab, part of the KBR Digital Engineering Environment.

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.