FirstEnergy Names James H. Lash President and Chief Nuclear Officer, FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company

AKRON, Ohio, April 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) today announced that James H. Lash, senior vice president of Operations, FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC), has been named president and chief nuclear officer of FENOC.  Lash succeeds Joseph J. Hagan who has elected to retire on 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, Pa.; 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, Ga., 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.

Sena joined FENOC in 1997 and has held numerous management positions at Beaver Valley including director of Engineering and director of Site Operations.  He was promoted from site vice president of Beaver Valley to FENOC vice president of Operations in 2009.  Previously, he was resident inspector with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  Sena also served as an officer in the U.S. Nuclear Navy.  He earned a bachelor of science degree from Pennsylvania State University and held senior reactor operator licenses for both Beaver Valley units.  

Hagan joined FirstEnergy in 2003 as senior vice president, FENOC.  He was promoted to senior vice president and chief operating officer in 2005 and became president and chief nuclear officer in 2007.

"Joe has been a tremendous asset to our company's nuclear program for the past seven years," said Alexander.  "He was instrumental in moving FENOC to a more centralized fleet-management approach and is well respected for his knowledge and expertise throughout the nuclear industry."

Prior to joining FENOC,  Hagan was senior vice president – Nuclear Operations for Exelon Generation, leading the Eastern Operations Group of Exelon Nuclear, which consisted of six nuclear units, including: Limerick 1 and 2, Peach Bottom 2 and 3, Three Mile Island and Oyster Creek.  He directed the planning and integration of the former PECO nuclear organization into Exelon Nuclear following the merger of Commonwealth Edison and PECO companies that formed Exelon in 2000.  From 1998 until the merger, he was the senior vice president – Nuclear Operations for PECO Nuclear.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.