Global Connections
There are approximately 33,000 KBR employees across the globe. Though we’re separated by miles, we are all connected by our values and shared purpose. In Global Connections, we celebrate our diverse team of teams by highlighting some of the places where we live and work.
In this edition, we’re proud to feature KBR’s Wilmington Operations Center (WOC), part of KBR’s Integrated Solutions business unit within Sustainable Technology Solutions, located just south of Wilmington, Delaware, United States.
Beautiful Scenery, Interesting History
Located on the East Coast of the United States, Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware and is positioned between Philadelphia to the north and Baltimore, Maryland, to the south with easy access to New York, Boston and Washington D.C. via rail or car in just a few hours.
Wilmington’s industrial heritage can be traced to the early 1800s, after Eleuthère Irénée du Pont emigrated to the U.S. and began manufacturing gunpowder and became a major supplier to the U.S. military. Demand for goods supplied by Wilmington skyrocketed during the American Civil War, including gunpowder, leather for shoes and iron ships. Further growth was prompted by the two World Wars, particularly demand for steel, machinery and chemicals.
A Great Place to Work
Wilmington is home to KBR’s Wilmington Operations Center (WOC), part of KBR’s Integrated Solutions business under Sustainable Technology Solutions. More than 336 people work at WOC, with an additional 468 (more than 50% of WOC employees) based at 28 client and project sites in 19 states across the U.S. and Mexico, supporting seven different clients. WOC’s foundation was built on clients in the chemicals, refining and agriculture markets including DuPont, Chemours, IFF, and Monroe. Today, WOC is known as KBR’s center of excellence for biofuels and is branching into the energy transition markets of biochemicals, hydrogen and circular economy with clients including Shell, Wastefuel, BioJet, Solugen, Kairos Power and PureCycle.
Regardless of where they work, our teams work side by side with our clients executing their small capital “run and maintain” projects and are instrumental in keeping the facilities running.
But it’s not just all work at the WOC. Fostering employee engagement is a top priority and is achieved through team activities, community involvement and employee recognition. This concerted effort cultivates a genuine atmosphere of camaraderie and friendship within the workplace.
KBR's developing employee resource groups (ERGs) at WOC — including OK NoW, IMPACT and ASPIRE — regularly organize engaging events for employees. One notable instance was IMPACT's recent night out cheering on the Wilmington Blue Rocks minor league baseball team (pictured below).
Additionally, the WOC team consistently demonstrates its commitment to fostering a positive work environment through monthly employee appreciation events. These events have taken various forms, ranging from ice cream socials, nacho bars and food truck experiences to the creative “plant your own plant” activity.
The WOC team is also very active in the community and is kicking off the Bike to the Bay fundraiser, where its team of cyclists will choose between a 20-, 50-, 75-, or 100-mile ride. KBR riders are committed to supporting the mission of ending multiple sclerosis by raising as much money as possible.
Across KBR there is a strong focus on early career professionals, and this is certainly the case at WOC. Every week during summer 2023, interns and early-career professionals met for lunch, joined by senior members of staff who not only gave advice, but who also got to know the group on a more informal basis. Participants shared their passions, discussed hobbies, and actively engaged in discussions centered around career progression and development. Managers also presented subjects associated with what we do at KBR and showcased some of our high-tech software tools, inspiring our future leaders of KBR.
Did You Know?
Delaware was first inhabited by Lenni Lenape (Delaware) Indians as early as 1609 and became the first state of the United States of America in 1787.
Delaware has gained recognition for being the home of the current U.S. president, Joe Biden, who happens to reside in Wilmington less than 10 miles from the Wilmington office.
Delaware is one of the smallest and least populated states. In fact, many KBR employees based at WOC commute from neighboring states including Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.
