John Hairston JD '03

John L. Hairston JD ’03

08/10/2021

John Hairston JD ’03 was named administrator and CEO of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) by U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette in August 2021. Hairston had served as acting administrator and CEO since September 2020, and has dedicated the last 29 years to service at BPA in various positions. In his new role, he will lead BPA, the Pacific Northwest’s Federal Power Marketing Administration, which generates about $4 billion annually, provides roughly 27 percent of the electric power generated in the region, and maintains more than 15,000 circuit miles of high-voltage transmission line. Hairston has served in multiple capacities with BPA, including as COO. He will represent the interests of the organization and region in broad policy establishment at the national level with officials of the Department of Energy, other agencies, and Congressional stakeholders concerning power resource development, interregional power coordination, transmission planning and operations, protection and mitigation of fish and wildlife, and new or modified legislation for the industry. “I am truly honored and humbled by the opportunity to lead BPA during this dynamic time, we will continue to deliver on our strategic goals in order to remain a long-term provider of choice for low-cost, reliable, and responsible carbon-free power,” said Hairston.

04/14/2020

John Hairston JD ’03 became the Bonneville Power Administration’s new chief operating officer following the retirement of Janet Herrin on September 30, 2020 Hairston has served in numerous leadership roles throughout his 28 years at BPA, most recently as the agency’s first chief administrative officer. He will play a key role in delivery of agency strategic goals and is responsible for power services; transmission services; environment, fish, and wildlife; and customer support services. Hairston also oversees the business transformation office and is critical to BPA’s sustained focus on disciplined cost-containment and grid modernization.