NEW ORLEANS, LA — Entergy Corporation recently announced that A. Christopher “Chris” Bakken III has been named executive vice president and chief nuclear officer for Entergy Corporation, effective April 6. Bakken replaces Jeff Forbes, who announced his retirement last year.
In his new leadership role, Bakken is responsible for executive oversight of the safe, secure and reliable operation of Entergy’s nuclear plants located in New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Michigan, Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, as well as the company’s management services to the Cooper Nuclear Station for the Nebraska Public Power District. Bakken will also be responsible for building and strengthening relationships with external stakeholders, while becoming an engaged company representative to the industry.
Bakken’s 30-year career began in 1982 as a test engineer at Duquesne Light Company, where he spent nine years in the control room as a licensed senior reactor operator. Since then, he has held positions of increasing responsibility in operations for both domestic and global companies including American Electric Power, Public Service Enterprise Group, British Energy and EDF Energy.
“This is a critical time for the industry, Entergy and its nuclear fleet. I’m proud to join the Entergy team,” Bakken said. “During my career, I’ve often admired the company. I am looking forward to leveraging my experiences, the strengths of the team, resources of the enterprise and support of the industry to help Entergy regain our footing as an industry front-runner,” he added.
Prior to the role at Entergy, since 2011 Bakken has been executive director, EDF Energy Nuclear New Build and Project Director for Hinkley Point C based in London. In that role he was responsible for leading the design, licensing, procurement, construction and commissioning of the $25.8bn dual-unit EPR at Hinkley Point C, the first nuclear new-build project in the United Kingdom in 20 years. He joined the company in 2009 as director of operations, safety and licensing.
From 2003-2005, Bakken held positions at PSEG as senior vice president, site operations, president and chief nuclear officer, and senior vice president, power transition. From 1995-1999, he worked for PSEG as a manager and director of operations, before becoming a plant manager for Salem Generating Station. Under his leadership, the plant achieved maximum regulatory score in operations and support, and set a new record for continuous operation for Salem Unit 1.
He earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania, and a master’s in industrial administration with distinction from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh where he was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma national honor society. He earned a senior reactor operator’s license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 1986 for Beaver Valley Unit 1.
Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation’s leading nuclear generators. Entergy owns and operates Indian Point Energy Center which supplies Westchester County and New York City with 2,000 MW of electricity.
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