Employee Spotlight: Meet Eric Knox

Amentum is shining a spotlight on the talented individuals who represent both the foundation and future of Amentum, celebrating long-tenured and rising talent who are helping us advance the future together.

What is your role at Amentum?

Vice President, Strategic Development, Energy and Environment

What inspired you to join Amentum, and what was your first role?

Amentum (then URS) was the lead on the Department of Energy (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant contract and had just won the Yucca Mountain M&O contract. With a background at DOE in managing nuclear waste repository development projects, it seemed to be an ideal fit to join the leading company as an operations manager. Working as a senior executive at DOE, I was familiar with most every contractor company in that market and URS (now Amentum) always had the best people and highest performance standards – it was, in my opinion, the leading company to join.

How has Amentum evolved since you started?

Obviously, the merger and acquisition pathway from URS to Amentum has been a part of that evolution. Culturally, we have always been an employee friendly company and that remains, but our focus on customer success has been a constant pathway of continuous improvement. I believe we set the industry standard in that regard.

What has been your most memorable moment or achievement at Amentum?

There have been several but helping secure our first nuclear contract in France with ANDRA was a personal success as well as corporate. We had been partnered in the USA for years with a French nuclear company on multiple projects and they would not partner with us on any of their work in France. Securing a sole source contract in the country without their help was personally rather gratifying.

What’s something unique about Amentum that people might not know? Are there any exciting projects or historical moments you’ve been a part of during your time here?

Amentum’s breadth of projects and work. When I discuss the broader company with our Department of Energy customers and share our work and relationship with other customers like CAL FIRE, Dept. of Defense, Dept. of Homeland Security, NASA, ITER, Poland, and many others, they are always impressed. The goal there is to make sure they are aware that we do more than what we do for them, so when they look for contractors in other areas, they check with us too.

What advice would you give to new employees just starting their journey at Amentum?

Focus on your safety and personal performance first. Always seek opportunities to network across the company and learn what we do in areas outside your own group. The broader your knowledge and understanding of all that Amentum does globally, the better!