
As a President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Bob Pragada amplifies the Critical Mission Solutions and People & Places Solutions lines of business, which together generate more than $14 billion in annual revenue, and serve global clients in the public and private sectors.
Bob joined Jacobs in 2006, and over time he has held several senior management positions such as Senior Vice President, Global Sales; Group Vice President, Northern Region (United States and the Republic of Ireland); and Vice President, Field Services. He returned to Jacobs in 2016 after having served as President and CEO of the Brock Group (a leading provider of industrial specialty services), and took on the role of President of the Global Industrial and Buildings & Infrastructure lines of business.
“Infrastructure investment is the smartest way to create long-term economic growth. Providing robust and reliable resilient solutions to keep our communities and our cities moving forward will be a critical part of our continued recovery from this pandemic.”
Bob’s tenure at Jacobs has been defined by his efforts leading the enterprise-wide transformation, which directly led to material improvement in the company’s profitability and market leadership. He led the successful acquisition of CH2M HILL, a $5 billion diversified technical services leader in the infrastructure, water, environmental and nuclear space. This transaction, which closed at the end of 2017, was one of the largest of its kind in the engineering and construction sector. Immediately following the close of the acquisition, Bob led Jacobs' geographical expansion, innovation in project delivery, and smart solutions including the company’s recent partnerships with large-scale private sector clients, sovereign nations, and local governments to build technically complex facilities and greenfield smart cities. In late 2020, Bob was instrumental in leading Jacobs’ investment in a majority stake in PA Consulting, a multi-billion dollar world-leading digital consulting firm, and he now serves as an executive leader and Board Member for that organization.
Bob’s strong managerial skills are also recognized outside Jacobs. He serves as a Director on the Boards of Eaton (NYSE:ETN – a $17.9 billion dollar power management company), HydroChemPSC (a billion dollar Littlejohn Capital owned company), Riggs Distler (a $500 million dollar Oaktree Capital owned company), and the U.S. India Business Council. He has also served on the Executive Council of the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors since July 2018, and as co-chair of the Diversity in Leadership Sub-Council of the DRC’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council since July 2020.
-
10
years spent in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps where he rose to the ranks of Lieutenant Commander
-
2
sons: Bobby and Cahlin, and wife, Jessica
-
2.5
years serving the President of the United States as Facilities Director at Camp David
-
$ 14 B
in annual revenues under his leadership
More from Bob
From Where I Sit with Ben Almond - Episode 38: Hone Your Leadership Skills with Bob Pragada
In this podcast, Bob Pragada sits down with Ben Almond, CEO of SNC Lavalin's EDPM Business in Canada and previous Jacobs leader. We get to learn about Bob’s career and personal growth as he takes us through lessons that have stuck with him over time from his childhood through to where he sits now as Jacobs' President and Chief Operating Officer. Bob shares his thoughts on eliminating racism, generating equality, and learning to thrive and succeed during trying times.
Jacobs: If/When - Resilience: Not Business as Usual
Much of today’s world is shaped by the impact of COVID-19, and pandemic response is operationalized into everything we do moving into the future. In this episode of If/When, Bob Pragada, president and chief operating officer of Jacobs, and Chrissy Thom, Jacobs vice president, global solutions and technology discuss how Jacobs is shifting its business focus, operations and reimagined solutions to thrive through the path of COVID-19’s global pandemic.
Featured articles
Infrastructure Intelligence: Embracing change at Jacobs
Cheddar: Jacobs Engineering Group Celebrates 30 Years on New York Stock Exchange