Recipient of a National Medal of Technology and Innovation
Stephen Bechtel Jr. graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1946 and joined his family's business, Bechtel Corporation, in 1948. Within 12 years, he gained experience on projects across the U.S. and Canada. He became chief executive officer in 1960 and chairman in 1969, overseeing Bechtel's significant growth over three decades and leading a workforce of 44,000 employees. During his tenure, Bechtel secured major civil engineering projects worldwide, including the Channel Tunnel, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and Jubail Industrial City in Saudi Arabia. From 1982 to 1986, Bechtel served as chairman of the National Academy of Engineering. He received numerous accolades for his contributions to engineering, such as a Hoover Medal in 1980, elevation to National Honor Member of Chi Epsilon in 1990, and an Honor Award from the National Building Museum in 1998. In addition, Bechtel earned a National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 1991, and Purdue’s Bechtel Innovation Design Center bears his name.