The lights shine brightly for nearly 5.4 million electrical customers in 11 states thanks to the nation's largest electricity transmission system that’s currently being supervised by mechanical engineering alumnus Mark C. McCullough.

The 1981 graduate serves as executive vice president of transmission with American Electric Power—the latest assignment in a 37-year career with the Ohio-based company that’s focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to its customers.

McCullough previously led AEP's electric generation organization since 2011 as that division executive vice president. He was one of three key operational executives to shift roles in 2019 to expand their experiences within the company.

AEP Chairman/President/Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Akins stated in a company press release that the rotation of executive leadership roles is a continuation of AEP's professional development program.

McCullough has served in a variety of leadership positions with the company’s generation operations, which is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with approximately 32,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 4,340 megawatts of renewable energy. He serves as a director of the Electric Power Research Institute, the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, HomePort, the Columbus Housing Partnership and the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation.

AEP’s electricity transmission system has more than 219,000 miles of distribution lines. Its family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners and AEP Renewables.