The Tennessee Valley Authority has named Don Moul, its chief operating officer and a nuclear industry veteran, as its next chief executive officer — an internal hire that defies recent criticisms from Tennessee’s U.S. senators who warned TVA lacked the leadership to meet the moment of a nuclear energy revival.
Moul, who will step into the CEO role in the coming weeks, has held leadership roles at investor-owned utilities like FirstEnergy and spent nearly three decades in the nuclear energy sector before joining the federally owned utility in 2021. His appointment follows a national search and a period of intensifying scrutiny of TVA’s governance and direction.
“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,” outgoing TVA CEO Jeff Lyash said in a statement. “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.”
The announcement also comes three months after Lyash said he would step down as CEO. Lyash had previously been attacked by President Donald Trump for earning the highest salary of any federal employee.
