Retired U.S. Air Force Officer uses Leadership Skills to Foster Inclusion and Diversity at KBR
I have spent my entire life in military service as a retired United States Air Force lieutenant colonel, judge advocate (military lawyer), Air Force Academy graduate and military dependent. The leadership skills that I learned through my military service and diverse professional background are now being used at KBR by helping employees find a home and a sense of connection in a global corporation.
The U.S. Air Force and KBR are both made up of thousands of people stationed around the globe. Just like in any large organization, it’s easy for individuals to feel like another number without a personal sense of connection to the people and the goals of the team.
To help foster this camaraderie at KBR, I am actively contributing as a member of the Inclusion and Diversity team where I lead the development of an education and training strategy. Through this team, I am lending my voice to the courageous conversations that must take place in the workplace if any meaningful change is to occur. KBR is on a path to becoming an even more inclusive workplace and I feel honored to be playing a critical role on this journey.
I have come to understand the importance of connection and inclusion in an organization because my own military experience comes with deep roots. My stepfather was a retired Air Force enlisted member and three of my four brothers each served full careers in the military. Collectively, we’ve performed as a family more than 125 years of military service. My personal sense of connection to the U.S. Air Force helped me to thrive and succeed. I’m now experiencing the same sense of accomplishment at KBR because I’ve been able to develop meaningful and impactful relationships built on trust and mutual respect across the global spectrum of the organization.
Ultimately, I’m a firm believer that we should want our employees not just to feel as if they are a part of KBR but also that they belong at KBR. Based on the opportunities I’ve enjoyed, I feel as if I belong at KBR.
Victor serves as Director, Global Labor and Employment Law in KBR’s Houston office. He is passionate about effective leadership and fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace through education and training.
