Dominion (NYSE: D) announced today that David A. Heacock, president of Dominion Nuclear and the company’s chief nuclear officer, will retire, effective March 1, 2017. Beginning Oct. 1, Daniel G. Stoddard, senior vice president of Nuclear Operations, will become senior vice president and chief nuclear officer. Heacock will remain president of Dominion Nuclear until his retirement.
During the transition, Stoddard will continue reporting to Heacock, but will have a dotted-line relationship as chief nuclear officer to Paul Koonce, CEO of the Dominion Generation Group. Stoddard will begin reporting directly to Koonce on March 1.
“Dave’s knowledge and reputation in the nuclear industry is unparalleled,” Koonce said. “He is an expert on issues facing both the company and the industry as a whole. In the aftermath of the earthquake that struck near North Anna Power Station in 2011, he quickly guided the company and regulators. He also led the industry’s response to the safety analysis following the Fukushima nuclear incident in Japan.
“We are grateful for his knowledge and leadership,” he said.
“At the same time,” Koonce added, “Dan will pick up the mantle and continue making Dominion’s nuclear program a leader in the industry.”
Heacock, who received his bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Virginia, joined Virginia Power in 1979 and has held numerous management positions in Nuclear Operations, Generation and Transmission & Distribution. He served as president of the company’s Dominion Virginia Power operating segment from October 2007 to May 2009.
Stoddard, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering, also earned his master’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Virginia. He joined Dominion in July 2006 as director-Nuclear Station Safety & Licensing, and was named site vice president-North Anna Power Station later that year. He assumed the post of vice president-Nuclear Operations in February 2010, and was promoted to senior vice president-Nuclear Operations in May 2011.
Also on Oct. 1, Mark Sartain, vice president-Nuclear Engineering, who currently reports to Heacock, will begin reporting to Stoddard. Mark Mitchell, vice president-Nuclear Construction, will continue his dotted-line reporting relationship to Heacock until March 1.
