RICHLAND, Wash. – Energy Northwest CEO Vic Parrish has tapped Dale Atkinson and Scott Oxenford to fill key leader positions at Columbia Generating Station, the company’s 1,157 megawatt nuclear power plant 10 miles north of here. The moves are effective immediately.
Atkinson will move from Vice President, Technical Services to Vice President, Nuclear Generation. In his new position, he will be responsible for all work directly associated with Columbia Generating Station.
Oxenford will become Vice President, Technical Services. In his new position, he will be responsible for engineering, security and a range of support organizations.
Atkinson joined Energy Northwest in 1989 and has 26 years experience in the nuclear power plant industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Oregon State University, a master’s degree in engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and an MBA from the University of Washington.
Oxenford was promoted in October 2004 from Plant General Manager to an interim position as Vice President for Nuclear Generation. His new assignment as Vice President, Technical Services, completes his reassignment. He joined Energy Northwest in 1994 and has over 20 years experience in the nuclear industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Pennsylvania State University and has completed the Harvard University Graduate School of Business, Advanced Management Program.
Parrish said the moves, including the interim assignment for Oxenford, are designed to minimize organizational boundaries and improve coordination between the teams. “I am excited with the change in positions. I value the enormous talent and depth of experience these two professionals add to our team. Their professional partnership is a good example of the kind of supportive, integrated teams we value here,” he said.
Dale Atkinson
Vice President
Nuclear Generation
Dale Atkinson, Vice President, Nuclear Generation, joined Energy Northwest in 1994. In his current position, he is responsible for all work directly connected with Columbia Generating Station, including performance management, plant general manager, reactor maintenance, outage management, nuclear training, and Utilities Service Alliance (USA) membership activities.
Before joining Energy Northwest, Mr. Atkinson was a supervisor of Startup Testing with General Electric for six years. He also provided consulting services on initial power plant testing to several utilities. Mr. Atkinson served in the U.S. Navy for five years and has 19 years experience in the nuclear power plant industry.
Mr. Atkinson holds a bachelor of science degree in nuclear engineering from Oregon State University, a master of engineering degree in industrial engineering (management information systems) from Pennsylvania State University, and an MBA from the University of Washington. He is certified as a Senior Reactor Operator on GE BWR 4, 5 and 6 reactors, and as a Station Nuclear Engineer and Shift Technical Advisor at Columbia Generating Station.
Mr. Atkinson is a member of the Corporate Nuclear Safety Review Board for Columbia Generating Station. He is also a member of the Academy of Distinguished Engineers and the Advisory Board for the Nuclear Engineering Department at Oregon State University.
Scott Oxenford
Vice President
Technical Services
W. Scott Oxenford, Vice President, Technical Services, joined Energy Northwest in 1989. In this position, Mr. Atkinson is responsible for Engineering, Construction and Maintenance Services, Regulatory Programs, Quality, Information Services, and Resource Protection.
Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Oxenford was Vice President, Nuclear Generation, and Columbia Generating Station plant general manager. He has held several key management positions during his tenure at Energy Northwest including: assistant to the plant general manager; operations manager; outage/work control manager; and assistant to planning, scheduling, and outage manager.
Before joining Energy Northwest, Mr. Oxenford was with PECO Energy for seven years, where he held progressively more responsible positions at Limerick Generating Station in Pennsylvania. He has over 20 years of experience in the nuclear industry.
Mr. Oxenford holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Pennsylvania State University and held a Senior Reactor Operator License at Limerick Generating Station. He has successfully completed the Eckerd College Management Development Course, the PECO Supervisory Development Academy, Aubrey Daniels Performance Management, Energy Northwest
Leadership Academy, INPO Senior Plant Management Course, and the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Advanced Management Program.
During his time in Pennsylvania he served as the Chairman of the Amity Township Board of Supervisors.