The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors has appointed Don Moul as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the nation’s largest public power utility, effective April 9. Moul succeeds Jeff Lyash, who announced his retirement in January.
TVA’s executive vice president and chief operating officer since June 2021, Moul brings more than 38 years of experience in power generation and operations. He is recognized for his leadership in advancing nuclear technologies and strengthening operational performance. During Moul’s tenure as COO, TVA achieved record-setting safety metrics and twice met all-time peak power demands during severe weather.
Jeff Lyash, TVA’s outgoing CEO, praised Moul’s leadership.
“Don is the right choice to lead TVA forward as we work to build an energy system to power the next generation of American jobs,” said Lyash. “Don is ready to be the hand guiding TVA in a time of rapid change and growth, and he will continue to propel TVA’s nuclear leadership. In his role as COO, he has led the development of next-generation nuclear technologies and has a deep knowledge and appreciation for nuclear power – the most reliable power the world’s ever known.”
Joe Ritch, TVA’s Board Chairman, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing Moul’s qualifications.
“His extensive knowledge and experience make him one of the top leaders in the industry. Over the past several years, we have been intentional about developing and growing our leadership bench strength. We brought Don to TVA four years ago with succession planning in mind. Don’s vision, depth of industry knowledge, and favorability among TVA employees position him well to unleash TVA’s potential from Day One, with little to no learning curve.”
Moul will focus on maintaining TVA’s industry leadership in nuclear power while advancing the utility’s commitment to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.
“When you think about the strength of our economy, it’s going to be determined by the strength of our energy and infrastructure,” he said. “And I think TVA is leading that charge. We’re in a period of growth like we’ve not seen before, and, to meet that growth, we are making one of the largest capital investments in our history.”
Moul also expressed confidence in TVA’s future, highlighting the ongoing commitment to innovation and service.
“I’ve had four years here. I’ve seen the competitive advantage that public power brings to our region – working in partnership with local power companies and direct serve customers to serve 10 million people across seven states. I am excited about this opportunity, and the transition is going to be seamless. TVA needs a steady hand right now. I will build on the momentum that Jeff and our team have created – making sure we continue to invest in new generation, strengthen our grid, and enhance system reliability.”
Moul’s extensive experience in nuclear leadership includes positions with FirstEnergy and NextEra Energy, where he played pivotal roles in operational improvements and nuclear culture transformation. His appointment underscores TVA’s commitment to leveraging proven leadership as it navigates a period of significant growth and investment.
As TVA continues to serve the growing energy demands of its seven-state region, Moul’s strategic vision will shape the future of power generation and infrastructure development. The TVA community and stakeholders will watch closely as Moul takes the helm, guiding the authority toward continued innovation and reliability in the years to come.
