It is with great sadness that we share the news that Valerie McCain, project director of the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant and a Bechtel Senior Vice President, died Sunday evening after a short illness.
The entire Vit Plant team mourns this loss. Val was an inspiration to so many people on project, across the Hanford Site and Bechtel, and in the Tri-Cities community.
Since joining WTP in October 2018, Val led the team of 2,250 employees in completing all construction for Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste; transitioning to commissioning and ramping up the commissioning workforce; shifting to a 24/7 operational culture; and managing through the pandemic while continuing to advance the mission. Her leadership culminated in the highest-ever rating for the project’s performance from the Department of Energy customer just one week ago.
Val was an exceptional human being and led the Vit Plant team in achieving some of the most challenging and exciting milestones in the project’s history. Those who met her knew instantly that she genuinely cared about people. She modeled high integrity, compassion, and drive to make a difference in the world. The team was blessed to have her as a leader, teammate, and friend.
She also served our local and government communities on boards of the Energy Facility Contractors Group, TRIDEC, the STEM Foundation, and Columbia Industries.
A bio is available here. And a headshot is available here.
Contact: Staci West, (509) 371-5740 or sawest@bechtel.com