Craig Albert ’85

Distinguished Alumni Award

Craig Albert is a visionary that looks beyond his own remarkable achievements to recognize the importance of paying it forward, especially when it comes to creating opportunities for UNC Charlotte students. He continually strives to make education available and achievable to an array of students, helping them to pursue their dreams.

Craig and his wife, Darla, established two student success programs at UNC Charlotte. The Albert Engineering Leadership Scholars Program invests in superior students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of academic achievement, leadership and community engagement. The program offers students a full, four-year scholarship, along with academic support and the professional guidance necessary to achieve their educational and professional goals. The Freeman Scholarship provides renewable scholarship support to students pursuing any major who are eligible for one of the University’s honors programs. The Freeman Scholarship is open to incoming first-year students eligible for a Federal Pell Grant or other federal grant aid programs.

As a result of their incredible generosity, in 2020, the Albert & Freeman Energy Production and Infrastructure Center was named in honor of the Alberts for the immeasurable impact they have made at UNC Charlotte.

Currently, Craig serves as president and chief operating officer of Bechtel Group, Inc., where he is responsible for the management and oversight of Bechtel’s global operations, is chairman of the operating committee and serves on the company’s board of directors. He has held a series of executive leadership, operational and management positions throughout Bechtel over the course of his 22-year career with the company. Prior to Bechtel, Craig  held a variety of positions at Westinghouse Electric Corp., including serving  as manager of business for Westinghouse’s government business.

Craig received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from The William States Lee College of Engineering and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.