Stephen Bechtel Jr., third-generation CEO of Bechtel, dies at 95

Stephen Bechtel Jr., the former third-generation CEO of Reston, Virginia-based Bechtel, died at his home on March 15 at the age of 95. Bechtel led the engineering, construction and project management firm from 1960 to 1990.

Under his leadership, he oversaw the company’s growth into a leader in the construction industry, building iconic infrastructure on six continents and pioneering new technologies, engineering and construction methods. The firm’s sales grew 11-fold, its employee population five-fold, and major projects from 18 to 119 during his tenure, according to the company.

“My grandfather leaves behind a remarkable legacy of accomplishment, integrity, excellence, and commitment to customers and communities,” Bechtel CEO and chairman Brendan Bechtel, says. “In every aspect of his life, he was driven by his strong values and a vision for helping to build a better world, which continue to guide us in partnering with customers today.”

Stephen Bechtel Jr. was born on May 10, 1925, in Oakland, California. Upon graduation from Piedmont High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, took officer training at the University of Colorado and earned a civil engineering degree from Purdue. In 1946, he entered Stanford University, where he received an MBA. From 1948-1960 he worked his way up the Bechtel ladder from field engineer to CEO at age 35. 

Although Bechtel had a proud history of mega projects in the United States, Steve Jr. as he was known, extended the firm’s footprint around the world and took on efforts of increasing technical sophistication. Among Bechtel’s notable projects under his leadership were: the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) of San Francisco; many first-of-a-kind North Sea oil and gas platforms; LNG plants in Algeria, the UAE, and Indonesia; nuclear power plants throughout the U.S.; the Jubail Industrial City and King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia; and the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France. 

Bechtel retired as CEO at age 65 in 1990, succeeded by his son Riley Bechtel, and later in 2016 by his grandson, Brendan Bechtel. He continued to serve on the company’s board through 2018.

Beyond the company, Bechtel served as a director of leading companies including General Motors, IBM and the Southern Pacific Railroad. He also served as chairman of both The Conference Board Inc. and the Business Council.

He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1975 and served as chairman from 1982 to 1986. He was the 1980 recipient of the Hoover Medal, which honors the civic and humanitarian achievements of engineers. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 1990 and the French Legion of Honor in 1979. 

Active in civic affairs, he served on six presidential commissions for three U.S. presidents. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush awarded Bechtel the nation’s highest honor for technological achievement, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. He also served in advisory roles at the California Institute of Technology, Purdue, MIT, Stanford, and the Hoover Institution.