Craig Albert ’85

Craig Albert earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from UNC Charlotte in 1985.  He and his wife Darla moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to begin his career with Westinghouse Electric Corporation. While with Westinghouse, he earned a master’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. 

Craig joined the Bechtel Corporation in 1998 and went on to hold senior leadership positions on key energy, environmental, infrastructure and national security projects and businesses around the world. As president of the company’s nuclear and security business, Craig served for six years as vice chairman of the Livermore and Los Alamos national laboratories in California and New Mexico.  In 2013, Craig joined the Bechtel board of directors, and since 2020, he serves as the Bechtel Group president and COO.

Craig and Darla are active philanthropists with special focus on education and health care. They helped to found and fund mental health emergency room capability within the INOVA hospital system in Northern Virginia.  On the education front, they provide scholarships through the endowment of the Freeman and the Albert scholarship programs at UNC Charlotte, their alma mater. The Albert & Freeman Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) located on the UNC Charlotte main campus is named in their honor.

Craig received the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2021 in honor of his dedication to the University.

Craig and Darla have four grown children and one grandchild. They reside in McLean, VA.