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Wyle Laboratories

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KBRwyle
Formerly
  • Wyle Laboratories, Inc. (until 2007)
  • Wyle (2007-2016)
Company typePrivate
Founded1949; 75 years ago (1949) in El Segundo, California
FounderFrank S. Wyle
Headquarters
El Segundo, California
Number of locations
50
RevenueUS$1.1 billion
Owner
Number of employees
Approx. 4,800
Divisions
  • Aerospace Group
  • CAS Group
  • Integrated Science, Technology, and Engineering Group
Websitekbr.com/markets/government/kbr-wyle/ Edit this on Wikidata

Wyle Laboratories (Wyle) was an American privately held provider of engineering, scientific and technical services to the Department of Defense, NASA, and a variety of commercial customers primarily in the aerospace industry. The company offered services in the areas of test and evaluation; systems engineering and information technology; life cycle and acquisition program management; life sciences research; space medical operations and engineering; and qualification testing for systems and components.

Founded in 1949, the company is still headquartered in El Segundo, California, and has approximately 4,800 employees at more than 50 facilities nationwide. Wyle comprises three primary operating entities: Aerospace Group, CAS Group, and Integrated Science, Technology, and Engineering Group. Annual revenue is approximately $1.1 billion.

History

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Founded in 1949 by Frank S. Wyle (1919–2016)[1] as part of the rapidly expanding Southern California aerospace industry, Wyle Laboratories, Inc. began operations in El Segundo, California as a testing laboratory.[2] Frank S. Wyle was married to Edith R. Wyle and is the grandfather of actor Noah Wyle and artist Sonia Romero.

Over time, the company diversified into a variety of markets and businesses. Through a buy-out in 1995, the company was split into Wyle Electronics and the Scientific Services and Systems Group, which continued to operate as Wyle Laboratories. In 2007, the company decided to simplify its name to Wyle since its primary business focus had evolved into a range of services. It still operates laboratories, but its primary business focus is on securing long term services contracts from the Department of Defense, NASA and other Federal agencies.

In 1998, Wyle acquired Krug Life Sciences, an aero-medical research company with 30-plus years of history supporting NASA's crewed space flight programs. In January 2005, Wyle acquired the General Dynamics Aeronautics division, formerly a part of Veridian, adding aviation research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) expertise to the company's portfolio.

In 2008, Wyle acquired RS Information Systems, which today is the company's third primary business group, providing services as Wyle Information Systems Group. The acquisition brought total annual revenue to $800 million and the total number of employees to 4,200, giving Wyle an additional presence in the Washington D.C. "Beltway" area. In a subsequent reorganization, Wyle's heritage Test, Engineering and Research Group was folded into the Aerospace Group, returning the organization to three primary business groups, but with an emphasis on aerospace and IT systems rather than independent test and evaluation. The unit was subsequently split off again in late 2010 and operates as an independent unit within Wyle.

In May 2009, Wyle entered into a merger agreement to be acquired by Court Square Capital Partners, an investment company which is now the majority shareholder.

In September 2010, Wyle bought the CAS unit from ITT and organized it as the company's fourth operating group. The CAS Group provides a range of services to the U.S. Army and related customers.

In 2016, KBR purchased Wyle for $570 million becoming KBRwyle[3]

Norco, California Facility and Resulting Groundwater Contamination

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The Wyle Labs facility in Norco, California was established in 1957 for military testing, working with aerospace firms and on nuclear research programs. The facility first came under scrutiny in 1999 and the early 2000s for groundwater contamination to the site and surrounding areas as a result of mishandling and improper disposal of chemicals.

Groundwater tested on site was shown to contain trichloroethylene at levels 128 times higher than the state's limit for drinking water, as reported by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The chemical is often used to remove grease from metal and to clean liquid oxygen and hydrogen tanks. Side effects of immediate exposure include respiratory problems and headaches, and has produced liver tumors in mice.[4]

Riverside County health officials also reported detecting hydrazine, a rocket fuel once used in Wyle's tests, in two local wells. County inspectors also discovered faulty chemical inventory records at Wyle and incomplete training documents.[5]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined that the site was so polluted that it was eligible for a spot on the National Superfund list. The agency later declined to list it, as the state was overseeing site cleanup. In 2003, Wyle signed an order with the state California Department of Toxic Substances Control agreeing to find and clean up all contamination from the site.[6]

The Norco High School property, adjacent to the former lab, tested positive for trichloroethylene at 61 micrograms per liter in a California Department of Toxic Substance Control report from August 16, 2005.[7]

As of 2021, Groundwater monitoring and site cleanup is still ongoing.[8]

Facilities

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Service areas

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  • Acoustics Research and Consulting
  • Air Quality Research and Consulting
  • Acquisition Program Management
  • Clinical and Occupational Health Services
  • Design and Construction of Advanced Test Equipment
  • Foreign Military Sales Case Management
  • Information Technology
  • Life Cycle Management
  • Life Sciences Research
  • Non-destructive Inspection
  • Science and Mission Integration
  • Space Flight Hardware Development and Fabrication
  • Space Launch and Operations Support
  • Space Medical Operations
  • Systems Engineering
  • Telemetry and Data Systems
  • Test pilot and Test Aircrew Services

References

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  1. ^ "Interview of Frank S. Wyle". UCLA Library, Center for Oral History Research. 2008. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  2. ^ "Frank Wyle, aerospace innovator and L.A. museum benefactor, dies at 97". Los Angeles Times. 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  3. ^ "KBR Acquires Government Services Company, Wyle | KBR".
  4. ^ "Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. 2002. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  5. ^ "Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. 2002. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  6. ^ "Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. 2005. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  7. ^ "Cal DTSC" (PDF). California Department of Toxic Substance Control. 2016. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  8. ^ "Cal DTSC" (PDF). California Department of Toxic Substance Control. 2021. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  9. ^ Production Briefing. // Aviation Week & Space Technology, May 7, 1962, v. 76, no. 19, p. 97.
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