Joy Ditto became the American Public Power Association’s president and CEO on January 13, 2020. Before that, she was the president and CEO of the Utilities Technology Council, a global trade association representing electric, gas, and water utilities on their mission-critical information and communications technologies. She has testified before the U.S. Senate and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is a past member of the Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee and a past chair of the National Energy Resources Organization. She is currently on the Board of the Electrical Safety Foundation International and the Center for Energy Workforce Development.
Before joining UTC, Joy was with the American Public Power Association for 15 years, rounding out her tenure as the senior vice president for legislative and political affairs. Earlier, Joy spent seven years on Capitol Hill, as legislative assistant to two representatives from Pennsylvania, Joe McDade (R), and Don Sherwood (R), and a senator from Nebraska, Chuck Hagel (R). She was a staff assistant to Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in her first job out of college. Joy advised her bosses on issues involving natural resources, agriculture, trade, tax, banking, the justice system, environment, and energy.
As a “Marine Corps brat,” Joy learned early that relationships are key to success, as are a willingness to work hard and an ability to see both “the forest and the trees.”
Joy is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a BA in history and minor in political science and has received an executive certificate in nonprofit management from Georgetown University.
Joy is married with two daughters. She is a competitive equestrian in the sport of eventing.
