KENNEWICK _ The Bechtel National project director for Hanford’s massive vitrification plant died Sunday after a short illness, Bechtel announced on Monday.
Valerie McCain had led work to build and prepare the plant to begin treating radioactive waste since late 2018. She also was a Bechtel senior vice president since 2020.
“She was highly respected, exemplified our One Hanford spirit and consistently inspired all who were lucky enough to serve with her,” said Brian Vance, the Department of Energy manager for the Hanford nuclear reservation site in Eastern Washington.
She led a team of 2,250 employees in completing construction on parts of the plant needed to treat low activity waste and at the time of her death was leading work to start treating radioactive waste at the plant where construction began in 2002.
Just a week ago the Department of Energy gave Bechtel its highest ever rating for its performance at the vit plant.
McCain congratulated staff then, saying she was proud of their “refusal to be deterred when we encounter technical challenges and for your ability to work together productively at all levels both internally and with our customer.”
Those who met her knew instantly that she genuinely cared about people, Bechtel said in a statement Monday evening.
“She modeled high integrity, compassion, and drive to make a difference in the world,” Bechtel said. “The team was blessed to have her as a leader, teammate, and friend.”
She was an inspiration to workers across the Hanford site and in the Tri-Cities community, Bechtel said. She served on the boards of the Energy Facility Contractors Group, the Tri-City Development Council, the STEM Foundation and Columbia Industries.
“The Tri-Cities community has lost an incredible leader,” said Karl Dye, TRIDEC president. “Val inspired the TRIDEC Board, the Hanford contractors and the entire Tri Cities community with her inspirational leadership.”
Columbia Industries was excited to have McCain join its board in November due to her leadership acumen and inspiring personality, said Michael Novakovich, president of the nonprofit.
She had a passion for Columbia Industries’ mission, he said. It provides employment services and life skills training to people with disabilities.
“I personally was looking forward to working with her for many years to come,” he said. “Sadly, we will miss Val’s forward thinking and community investment.”
McCain was an environmental scientist by training and had provided oversight of Bechtel work in North America, Europe, Africa, Australia and the Middle East.
In her 28 years with Bechtel before coming to Hanford she had leadership roles at the Pueblo, Colo., plant for destroying chemical weapons and an aluminum smelter modernization project in Australia.
She also was project manager for DOE’s Uranium Processing Facility Project at Oak Ridge, Tenn.
She was known for her inclusive leadership style and delivered on large complex projects by emphasizing teamwork and collaborative customer relationships built on transparency, according to a bio posted on Bechtel’s vitrification plant website.
