Our History
For over four decades, CATLIN Engineers and Scientists has been a steadfast partner in environmental, geotechnical, and drilling services, serving communities and clients across the Southeast with integrity and innovation. Since our founding in 1985, CATLIN has earned a reputation as a leader—driven by a commitment to quality and a mission to create sustainable solutions.
Built on Trust.
Established in 1985 in Wilmington, NC, Richard Catlin and Associates, Inc. pioneered as the state's first environmental remediation professional consulting firm. Motivated by the environmental concerns voiced by local business owners, Founder Rick Catlin embarked on a mission to devise effective solutions.
Coastal Field Investigation
RIck Catlin: Sample Collection
From humble beginnings in Rick's garage and CATLIN's first small office, some of the earliest remediation systems crafted by our firm to address soil and groundwater contamination emerged.
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The disciplines of environmental assessment and remediation have grown and evolved greatly since then, but tried and true technologies and solutions continue to address environmental concerns all around us.​
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​Our firm was established as Richard Catlin & Associates, Inc. in 1985. Rick began to add resources to help build the business. They began to develop assessment and remediation techniques and grow our client base.
Over time, geotechnical and civil engineering services were added to assist our clients in a wide variety of engineering disciplines. In 1997 the name CATLIN Engineers and Scientists was adopted to highlight the multi-discipline services provided and range of technical personnel.​​
CATLIN Today: Headquarters in Wilmington, NC
CATLIN Back Then: Office Opening in 1993
​Today, CATLIN is one of the most respected firms in the industry. CATLIN has provided clients with reliable, cost-effective and on-time solutions on a wide range of projects.
Our clients include private industries, local governments and municipalities, and State and Federal agencies. Since 1985 we have amassed a tremendous amount of experience in all aspects of environmental, civil and geotechnical engineering.
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It all started with a drive to create a better world.​​
OUR JOURNEY
Richard Catlin & Associates was Incorporated in North Carolina. The firm was the first environmental remediation professional consulting firm in the state.
1985
Founding of CATLIN
The firm was booming with innovation, with the team creating and constructing advanced remedial systems from the pulse air sparge to the air stripper and establishing CATLIN as a trusted resource for environmental solutions. In 1993, the firm was selected for its first NAVFAC consulting contract for UST assessment and remediation at MCB Camp Lejeune and MCAS Cherry Point. ​​
1990s
Early Projects and
Expansion
As the years continued, CATLIN diversified its service portfolio to encompass geotechnical and civil engineering solutions to accompany its environmental capabilities. In 1997, upon receiving its first NCDOT contract for Subsurface Investigation of Roadway Projects, a rebranding ensued, culminating in the establishment of CATLIN Engineers and Scientists—a name that has since epitomized our commitment to multifaceted excellence.
1997
The Rebrand
In 2000, CATLIN established its own in-house geotechnical soil laboratory. Earning its AASHTO accreditation and analyzing thousands of samples throughout the years, the lab became a core asset to the firm.
2000
Establishing the
Soil Lab
Throughout the 2000s, CATLIN established new offices in Raleigh and Washington, NC, as well as Charleston, SC. These offices increased regional presence and service capacity, enabling CATLIN to support large-scale projects across the Carolinas and Virginia.
2000s
Service Areas and
Staff Expansion
2019 marked 20 consecutive years of service under the NCDOT Geotechnical Engineering Unit's Geotechnical, GeoEnvironmental, and Foundation Testing Services Limited Services Contract. This milestone exemplifies the steadfast growth of CATLIN's geotechnical unit, completing hundreds of roadway projects over the years.
2019
20 Years of
NCDOT On-Call
Kicking off in 2020, CATLIN provided environmental, civil, and geotechnical services under four NAVFAC MIDLANT Design-Build Packages in wake of Hurricane Florence's damage to various North Carolina Military bases. Rebuilding our state's military infrastructure served as a testament to CATLIN's resilience, expertise, and commitment to supporting critical facilities with reliable, lasting solutions.
2020
Rebuilding after
Hurricane Florence
Today
CATLIN maintains just under 40 professionals across North and South Carolina, continuing to serve federal, state, and local clients with trusted environmental, geotechnical, and drilling services. Built on a foundation of long-standing relationships and technical excellence, CATLIN continues to grow strategically—expanding capabilities while remaining committed to the personalized service and integrity that define our work.