KBR’s Byron Bright Earns 6th Wash100 Award for Acquisitions & Innovation Leadership
Executive Mosaic is pleased to honor Byron Bright, KBR President of Government Solutions U.S., with the 2025 Wash100 Award for his transformative impact on the government contracting industry through strategic acquisitions, robust contract wins and innovation.
Bright has guided KBR into a new era of growth and enhanced capabilities. Under his leadership, KBR has expanded its portfolio significantly, securing numerous high-value contracts and receiving widespread recognition in the industry.
This year marks his sixth Wash100 award and you can help Bright win the Wash100 popular vote competition by casting your votes at Wash100.com.
The prestigious Wash100 Award recognizes the most influential individuals in the government contracting sector each year, celebrating their past achievements and looking ahead to their future contributions. This year, the Wash100 tradition continued with a select group of distinguished leaders from both the public and private sectors chosen to receive this honor.
“Byron Bright is no stranger to the Wash100 list, but this year, he’s earning the honor with a new title—chief operating officer of KBR. After years of leading the company’s government solutions business, Byron is now steering operations across the board, and he’s off to a strong start. KBR’s acquisition of LinQuest marks a major investment in space and defense capabilities, and the company continues to win high-impact contracts, from supporting State Department medical operations to modernizing DOD information systems,” said Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic and founder of the Wash100 Award.
“Byron’s leadership has been instrumental in keeping KBR at the forefront of mission-critical solutions. And under Byron, the percentage of KBR’s revenue attributable to the GovCon industry continues to show a focus on government. Congrats Byron and the whole team at KBR!” added Garrettson.
Driving Key Initiatives
One of the most notable initiatives under Bright’s leadership is KBR’s acquisition of LinQuest, a move that has greatly bolstered the company’s digital, national security, space, and intelligence capabilities. This acquisition, completed in September 2024, underscores KBR’s commitment to expanding its presence in critical sectors such as cybersecurity and space exploration.
As part of this strategic initiative, KBR aims to leverage LinQuest’s expertise in satellite systems and advanced technology, further positioning itself as a leader in providing mission-critical services. In a statement, Bright highlighted the long-term potential of LinQuest’s integration, which would enable KBR to better serve national security customers and address emerging technological challenges.
Additionally, KBR has made substantial strides in enhancing its operations in key U.S. regions. In December 2024, the company announced an expansion of its operations in Beavercreek, Ohio, with the creation of hundreds of new jobs in the Dayton area. This expansion, which is part of a long-term growth strategy, will help the company better serve the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. Bright emphasized the importance of this expansion in solidifying KBR’s role as a key player in the U.S. defense infrastructure.
Major Contract Awards
Bright has been instrumental in securing some of KBR’s largest contract awards in recent years, further proving his ability to guide the company toward sustained growth in the government contracting sector. These awards not only reflect the company’s increasing footprint but also underscore its competitiveness in a highly demanding and diverse marketplace.
In May 2024, KBR secured a prominent position in the Defense Health Agency’s $43 billion indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. This contract allows KBR to provide critical health and wellness support services across the Department of Defense, a vital area for maintaining operational readiness. Bright played a pivotal role in this victory, underlining the company’s strength in providing essential services to military personnel.
KBR also secured a spot on a $2 billion contract to provide global contingency services for Navy facilities, a major achievement that expands its capabilities in delivering worldwide support to naval operations. Furthermore, in April 2024, the company earned a $771 million option on the Army’s Logistics Civil Augmentation Program, further cementing its role in providing logistics and life support services to U.S. military forces stationed around the world.
Additionally, in June 2024, KBR was awarded a substantial $82 million task order from the Air Force for support services related to the B-52 System Program Office, a high-profile contract that highlights KBR’s expertise in aerospace and defense. Other notable contract wins include cybersecurity support tasks for the DHA, valued at $60 million, and a $153 million contract supporting the Naval Test Wing Atlantic’s flight test and aircrew services. These significant awards not only bolster KBR’s portfolio but also reflect its ability to win highly competitive contracts in a challenging environment.
Recognition & New Role
Under his direction, KBR has also earned accolades for its exceptional performance and service delivery. Notably, the company was recognized as NASA’s Agency Large Business Prime Contractor of the Year in July 2024, further solidifying its reputation in the aerospace sector.
Because of his efforts in leading the company’s government solutions business, Byron was selected in January to take on the newly created chief operating officer role this coming May. As COO, he will oversee the newly realigned KBR business segments: Mission Technology Solutions, formerly Government Solutions, and Sustainable Technology Solutions.
KBR CEO Stuart Brodie said, “Byron has demonstrated exceptional leadership in his current role … I am extremely confident in Byron’s ability to consistently deliver results across the enterprise, and I look forward to partnering with him in his new leadership role.”
Byron Bright’s leadership has propelled KBR into a position of strength in the government contracting arena, with a clear focus on growth through strategic acquisitions and a relentless pursuit of high-value contract opportunities. His leadership style, marked by a combination of vision and execution, has enabled KBR to navigate an increasingly competitive market while securing significant contract awards.
As KBR continues to expand its capabilities and footprint under Bright’s direction, the future looks bright for the company and its role in supporting U.S. national security and defense objectives.
Executive Mosaic congratulates Byron Bright and the entire KBR team for their Wash100 recognition. Cast your vote for him at Wash100.com.