Robert P. Powers is vice chairman for American Electric Power Company. In this position, Powers will serve as a senior advisor to Nick Akins, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer, and will oversee AEP's utility subsidiaries, regulated generation, competitive businesses and physical and cyber security.

Previously, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer, with responsibility for AEP Utilities; AEP Energy Partners; Customer Services, Marketing & Distribution Services; Generation; Nuclear Generation; Regulatory Services; Physical and Cybersecurity; and AEP Aviation.

Powers also was president - AEP Utilities, where he was responsible for regulatory and policy matters relating to utility operations, and AEP’s Environmental and Safety organizations.

From 2006 to 2008, he was executive vice president - AEP East Utilities, responsible for AEP’s utility operating units Appalachian Power, Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, and AEP Ohio.

Previously, he was executive vice president - Generation, a position he had held since 2003. Powers was responsible for all generation activities, including fossil and hydro generation; nuclear generation; project and field services; fuel, emissions and logistics and business services.

From 2001 to 2003, he was executive vice president - Nuclear and Technical Services, a position that gave Powers his first significant exposure to fossil plant construction and maintenance, along with responsibility for operation of the D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant.

Powers joined AEP in 1998 as senior vice president - Nuclear Generation. Prior to joining AEP, he served as vice president and plant manager of Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s (PG&E) Diablo Canyon Nuclear Generating Station. Powers was employed by PG&E for 17 years, joining the firm as a health physicist in 1982, and subsequently serving in the maintenance, quality assurance and operations departments before becoming vice president.

Powers first joined the utility business in 1976, when he was hired by the Tennessee Valley Authority in the utility’s nuclear program. Powers focused on radiation measurement and environmental assessment of TVA’s nuclear power plants and uranium mining properties.

A native of Andover, Massachusetts, Powers earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Tufts University in Boston and a master's degree in radiological hygiene (health physics) from the University of North Carolina. He earned national certification by the American Board of Health Physics. He earned senior reactor operator certification in 1991. In addition, Powers completed executive management programs run by the University of California – Berkeley and Duke University.

Powers is active in the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and is the former Chairman of the Board for the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD), an EEI organization focused on recruiting technical talent to utilities. He also served as a member of the National Nuclear Training Accreditation Board for six years until 2009. Powers served as a member of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Board of Directors from 2002 to 2009. During his term at EPRI, he served as the chair of the compensation committee and as a member of the executive committee.

Locally, Powers serves on the boards of directors for the Wexner Center for the Arts and the James Cancer Center Foundation Board. Previously, he served on the Dean’s Advisory Council for The Ohio State University Engineering department, and as a board member for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds. Powers serves as Executive Champion of the AEP United Negro College Fund campaign at AEP in Columbus, and was recognized in 2009 with a Legacy Achievement Award by that organization. He also serves as Executive Champion of the AEP United Way Campaign. At AEP, he is an executive sponsor of the Pride Partnership Employee Resource Group.

Powers resides in Powell, Ohio, with his wife, Jan. They have three children. Daughter Erin is an attorney in Denver, Colorado. Middle son Jeff is a three-time Olympian in water polo, winning the silver medal for the United States in 2008. Steve is the youngest and is a store manager for Home Depot in Denver, Colorado.