FirstEnergy Corp. has named James H. Lash, as president and chief nuclear officer of FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC). Lash succeeds Joseph J. Hagan who has elected to retire on 1 May 1 2010, after a 40-year career in the nuclear industry. As part of the executive changes, Peter P. Sena III, vice president of Operations, will replace Lash as senior vice president of Operations.
In his new position, Lash will have overall management responsibility for nuclear fleet operations at the corporate headquarters and the safe, reliable operation of FENOC’s three nuclear power plants: the Beaver Valley Power Station, Shippingport, Pennsylvania; Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Oak Harbor, Ohio; and the Perry Nuclear Power Plant, Perry, Ohio.
“Jim has demonstrated strong management, leadership and technical skills during his 20 years with FirstEnergy,” said Anthony J. Alexander, president and chief executive officer of FirstEnergy. “I am confident that he will drive continuous improvement in our nuclear operations.”
Lash joined Davis-Besse in 1989 as safety engineering manager. He earned his senior reactor operator license at the plant and was named manager of Design Engineering in 1994, followed by stints as manager of Plant Operations and director of Engineering before being named plant manager in 1996. Lash served as a loaned executive to the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations in Atlanta, Georgia, from 2000-2002. Upon his return, he was named director of Site Operations at Beaver Valley and was promoted to site vice president in 2005. He was named senior vice president of Operations of FENOC in 2007.
Prior to joining the company, Lash was employed by Stone and Webster Engineering Corporation. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval Academy and was an officer in the U.S. Nuclear Navy. He currently serves on the Westinghouse Corporation Customer Advisory Board and is a member of the American Nuclear Society. He previously served on the board of the Pittsburgh Regional Business Coalition for Homeland Security and as a council member for the National Academy for Nuclear Training.
