Our People

Background
After graduating from high school in Singapore, my father, a taxi driver and sole breadwinner with three boys besides me, told me there was no point for a girl to get a university education because no man wants to marry a highly educated woman. So, I graduated with a Technical Diploma in Building from Singapore Polytechnic. I worked for five years as a Quantity Surveyor in the construction industry in Singapore, saving enough money to go to a university overseas since the University of Singapore did not accept diploma holders. I wanted to prove to my father that women can and should have a university education as well. During that time, a second university offering only Civil and Structural, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering degrees, and accepting Technical Diplomas with good grades opened in Singapore. I applied and was accepted, and three years later, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, in Civil and Structural Engineering. I went on to study two years on a part time basis at the National University of Singapore to obtain my Master of Science in Civil & Structural Engineering.

I started at McDermott in Singapore as a junior Structural Engineer. At that time, the Structural, Pipeline and Naval Architecture disciplines were all under one department, with Structural Engineers also assigned to Pipeline Engineering depending on the workload. In June 1994, I volunteered for the Pipeline Engineering position the McDermott Indonesia office needed for an EPIC project. Over the next three-and-a-half years, I built my expertise as a McDermott Pipeline Engineer by returning to the Jakarta office as requested whenever there was an EPIC pipeline project there.

Highlights
I started working at McDermott in March 1991. The company was highly recommended to me by a former McDermott structural engineering consultant, now a lecturer, who I met while I was a research assistant at Nanyang Technological University. I was excited to apply to McDermott because of what he told me about the opportunities and work environment there.

I was even more excited to actually experience it. McDermott has many offices, fabrication yards, vessels and barges. Working here has given me opportunities to travel and work with people globally, at offshore and onshore sites. It is very motivating to work in an environment where you are surrounded by smart and dedicated people who work as a team to meet deadlines and company goals.

Of the many memorable projects I worked on during my nearly 21 years at McDermott, one is the Mobil NSO “A” 63-mile, 30-inch diameter export pipeline. I completed the design and installation engineering of this sour gas pipeline by myself in the Jakarta office. Another rewarding project was as the lead Pipeline Engineer on installation of the West Natuna pipelines. As one of the largest EPCI pipeline projects undertaken by McDermott, it included laying 293 miles of 28-inch and 56 miles of 22-inch trunklines from Singapore to the West Natuna Sea, crossing the busiest ship channel in the world.

While based in the Houston office for the last 11 years, my work is international. I have been the lead Pipeline Engineer for at least half of the pipelines designed and installed offshore Qatar in the North Field and for continuing to support our Middle East clients in developing and sustaining this field.

Advice
McDermott offers great opportunity to those who want to design, fabricate and install offshore structures and pipelines. Engineers interested in this opportunity must be prepared to work hard, take challenges, meet deadlines and be responsible for the work that is assigned to them. Young graduate engineers must take initiative to read and study related materials, ask questions and build a career by starting at the entry level and slowly progressing up the ladder.

Background
I earned a Bachelor of Engineering-Production from Mumbai University, India, and completed the Post Graduate program in Construction Management at the National Institute of Construction Management in Pune, India.

My multifaceted and multidiscipline expertise has developed while working in Project Marketing, Proposals, Project Execution, Fabrication and Construction management over the past 16 years, with 13 of those years in offshore oil and gas projects.

I joined McDermott for its reputation as a contractor of turnkey EPCI offshore oil and gas construction projects worldwide and because I believed it offered me greater knowledge and career growth. From working relationships with McDermott while at my previous employer, I noted it being professional in its dealings and overall approach. My opinion of McDermott being extremely safety conscious and ethical were confirmed after I joined the company.

Highlights
I like McDermott’s working culture being firmly based on its values and its high regard for safety, ethics, quality and productivity, but without limiting employees’ ability to achieve growth and success for themselves and the company. Also, I like the ever-changing nature of the work and systems here, aimed with continuous improvement in all.

For me, my whole tenure of working at McDermott has been an exciting journey including the current project I am working on. It’s been a constant challenge, as one the first to be executed at Jebel Ali using the project-centric approach. As Senior Operations Engineer-Fabrication, I am involved in most of the interfaces including planning, engineering, procurement and construction and have seen many challenges overcome by the project team with ease. This has offered me a true sense of satisfaction, tremendous knowledge and high confidence.

Advice
My advice is to hone your skills in the basic planning and scheduling intricacies of projects by working backwards and being delivery focused. It’s also important to keep informed about timely arrangement of the necessary engineering and material resources, and managing construction works within budgets and schedules.

Background
I have a diploma in Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. My more than seven years of work experience consists of increasing levels of responsibility in Industrial Engineering, including continuous improvement systems and quality assurance.

I joined McDermott to apply and expand my capabilities in the oil and gas construction industry. My goal is to become a leader of change agents, who work together to optimize all components of the company. This team will be known for leading by example, taking initiatives, influencing others, solving challenging problems and helping to create a company-wide culture of proactive "problem solvers."

Highlights
What I have enjoyed the most in my career with McDermott was a 15-month temporary assignment as Structural Production Engineer for the North Rankin B construction project. This hands-on experience in the fabrication environment was a wonderful learning journey that fulfilled three major objectives:

• Gain more experience in the fabrication process as a knowledge basis for recommending improvements.
• Gain more knowledge in project management as an essential element in project execution excellence.
• Contribute more fabrication improvements once back to the Industrial Engineering environment, based on observation and experience with actual fabrication work versus just data or reports.

Background
I have a Mechanical Engineering Degree and an MBA from Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont. After college, I entered the US Air Force, serving as an Engineering Assistant, and following Active Duty, I joined McDermott as a Field Engineer. I quickly gained significant experience through a variety of projects and after three-and-a-half years, I moved to my current position of Marine Estimator, responsible for preparing presentations for multiple clients on marine installation, cost estimates, assembly and execution plans. I am also currently a Civil Engineering Officer in the Texas Air National Guard.

The offshore oil and gas construction industry was totally new for me; certainly not a career field I had ever dreamed of getting into, as I didn’t even know it existed. I found the work and environment at McDermott to be a good fit with my desire to always be learning and on the cutting edge of technology. But I decided to take a leap of faith after learning more about the company and realizing how much experience I would gain every day.

Highlights
I like that I am always learning and exploring the industry by working with more experienced people. I also like that there is never only one solution to the challenges that we face. The work environment is a place to grow in a career and where you enjoy coming to work every day. Most exciting and interesting so far was an installation project − my largest project as a Field Engineer and a first-of-kind. The many years of planning to take this project from beginning to end − from pile installation to the topsides − and working offshore for three months made it a challenging and very worthwhile experience.

Advice
Keep working hard and take the challenges that come your way. It’s fun and rewarding, and definitely a great experience to see projects that you personally planned go offshore and be constructed right in front of your eyes.

Background
I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Parahyangan University in Bandung, Indonesia in 2001 and worked in the Civil and Structural Construction field, specializing in concrete and steel structures and pile foundation. I also continued my education, receiving a Master of Science (M.Sc) degree in Civil Engineering from the National University of Singapore in 2007. At that point I joined McDermott through the Graduate Engineer Career Development Program. I saw it as a good opportunity to expand my existing experience to the offshore industry, which seemed more challenging and interesting.

In my current job, I manage yard operations which encompasses the facility, equipment and maintenance. I also manage, direct and coordinate multidisciplinary teams in executing work according to McDermott systems, processes and procedures.

Highlights
The working environment allows me to keep developing my skills and knowledge and, at the same time, provides many opportunities to show my potential

My favorite assignment so far was revamping the structural shops at our yard to increase efficiency and, hence, productivity. It involved introducing changes to many work processes, a strict budget and limited time. I felt proud that the team was both initiating and executing the changes, because we made positive contributions to the company. That really energizes me.

Advice
Be willing to learn, work hard and give your best at all times. Don’t wait for what you want to come to you; look for it and go get it. Become familiar with the work processes, procedures and safe work practices. Prioritize the job and allocate resources accordingly. Take initiatives, ask questions, apply the knowledge and make a decision. Do not be afraid of making a mistake. If you do, accept it, fix it and learn from it, so you don’t ever repeat it.

Background
I have a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a Minor in General Science. I joined McDermott in 1978 as an Anchor Hoist Operator on derrick barge DB26 based in Singapore intending it to be for just one year, to build up a little nest egg. Twenty-five years later, I was still in Singapore working on the vessels, having progressed from a rigger to Superintendent. After a five-year stint working on the client side, I returned to McDermott because I saw greater opportunity to influence offshore work practices over a longer-term here than is possible in the client environment of working with different teams every project.

Highlights
I have always felt that the best thing about McDermott is our people. We come from all walks of life, different backgrounds, countries, interests and expertise, but when pulled together I am always amazed at the outcomes we produce and the work atmosphere we maintain through the most difficult challenges.

The most interesting and exciting thing I’ve worked on is the upgrade of the DB30 from a lay barge to a combination derrick/lay barge. I was involved in the concept and design, took the vessel through the upgrade and then was Superintendent for the next four years after the upgrade. It is especially rewarding to see it working and performing, 12 years later, at a very high level due to some of those concepts and designs.

Advice
If you’re specifically interested in offshore construction, make sure you are fully aware of what’s involved and that it’s the right career decision for you and your family.

Whatever your job is, ask yourself each day, “What can I learn or did I learn?” Never fall into the trap that you think you know it all.

Also, as you progress through your career, don’t get caught up in the “I” syndrome. I have done very little in life by myself, but have been very fortunate to be supported by some extremely great people. Give credit where credit is due.