Biography – Kevin Howard

Kevin Howard

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Western Area Power Administration

Kevin Howard was named Chief Operating Officer for Western Area Power Administration in September 2018. In this position, he provides executive leadership and strategic direction for WAPA-wide engineering, security, asset management and technical programs critical to WAPA’s mission. He oversees a staff of 100 people who execute these functions in support of the entire organization.

Howard has more than 33 years of experience in power system operations, maintenance, engineering and construction at WAPA. Most recently, Howard was the Sierra Nevada vice president of power operations for 4.5 years. In that position, he implemented organizational efficiencies for real-time operations and successfully negotiated mutually beneficial transmission development agreements to improve system reliability and sustain affordable rates. The region achieved outstanding system reliability and compliance with North American Electric Reliability Corporation Standards. Howard also represented WAPA on the Western Electricity Coordinating Council Operating Committee.

Howard joined WAPA as student in 1984. After earning his degree in electrical engineering, he worked as a control and protection field engineer in Montrose, Colorado, leading installation and commissioning of substation equipment throughout the Colorado River Storage Project. Later, he served as a maintenance division director and Rocky Mountain engineering and construction manager. Kevin was the RM maintenance manager from 2008-2012, leading 185 staff in five states and achieving cost-effective maintenance, replacement and construction for more than 5,400 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and 120 substations. During his tenure, he implemented a behavioral-based safety program, completed system-wide studies to identify arc flash hazards and developed policies to provide arc flash protective clothing to craftsmen. Reportable accident rates for RM decreased by more than 50 percent.

A native of Montrose, Colorado, Howard holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Colorado State University. Howard also graduated from WAPA’s Executive Leadership Development Program in 2013.