Thought Leadership

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Dr. Will Meeks has supported military service members and their families through deployments, relocations and life's everyday challenges for nearly 20 years, guided by one simple belief: Sometimes the most meaningful thing you can do for another person is listen.

Now, he's bringing that experience to KBR.

"I think I found my calling," said Meeks, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology.  

That calling has led to hundreds of conversations with service members, their families and their children. One of those conversations has stayed with him for more than a decade.

In 2010, Meeks met with a soldier returning from Iraq who made it clear he had no interest in talking.

"He told me, 'I'm only here because I was told to be here,'" Meeks recalled.

The Army officer agreed to meet again. Then again. Over time, the soldier shared a memory about the traumatic death of an interpreter.  

"That captain broke down in my arms crying," Meeks said. "I cried too."

Meeks still remembers the weight of that moment.

"It was an honor that he trusted me enough to tell me."

That experience reinforced something he has learned throughout his career: Helping people isn't always about having the perfect advice. It’s often about creating a space where someone feels safe enough to be heard.

Meeks’s desire to serve others began long before his professional career.

"My dad was a Marine," he said. "I didn't join the military, but I understand what it means to grow up in a military family."

Meeks discovered an opportunity to support military communities after earning his counseling credentials and working in schools and private practice. What began as a new professional challenge quickly became a lifelong mission.

"I thought, ‘this is an opportunity to really serve people who serve our country.’"

That commitment remains unchanged nearly two decades later.

Meeks has seen firsthand the unique challenges military families face throughout his career. Frequent relocations often interrupt the careers of military spouses. Children repeatedly adjust to new schools, new neighborhoods and friends. Deployments create uncertainty, while returning home often requires families to adapt all over again.

“When families are supported and stable, service members can focus on the mission instead of worrying about what's happening at home," he said. For Meeks, that also makes supporting military families an important contributor to national security.

He also believes many people outside the military community don’t fully understand those realities.  

Meeks recalls speaking with educators at a North Carolina school who were surprised to learn many of their students had parents deployed overseas. In another school, a sixth grade student became upset because his father was in Georgia. His teacher assumed he meant the U.S. state.

"He meant the country of Georgia," Meeks explained. "His dad was deployed."

Moments like those reinforced the importance of awareness, empathy and ensuring military families know they don't have to face challenges alone.

While his work has often focused on helping people navigate difficult situations, Meeks believes one of the most valuable skills any professional can bring is the ability to truly listen.

“Sometimes people just need a place to sit down and say what’s wrong – and someone to hear it with an unbiased ear and not an opinion,” he said.  

That philosophy continues to shape the way he approaches every opportunity.

Meeks is proud to contribute nearly two decades of experience serving military communities as KBR continues to expand its expertise across defense, health and human performance. He hopes to help build teams that share the same commitment to compassion, collaboration and service.

"I really enjoy helping people," he said. "When I see a family regain some confidence or find some stability, it tells me what I do matters."

If he could leave military families with one message, it would be the same one that has guided his own career.

"You're not alone," Meeks said. "You don't have to carry all this on your own. Reaching out isn't a sign of weakness. It's a step toward strength."