William (Bill) Jefferson is Executive Vice President, Chief Operating and Safety Officer for NiSource, Inc. and a member of the executive leadership team. He drives operational excellence and safety at NiSource, overseeing all company and subsidiary natural gas and electric operations, as well as engineering and asset management, major projects, contractor support, environmental health and safety, work management, training, field operations support, and emergency response.

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
Jefferson has over 35 years of experience in the utility industry, most recently serving as Site Vice President for the South Texas Project (STP) Nuclear Operating Company. He also served as Vice President, Transmission Maintenance and Construction at Duke Energy, Vice President of the Harris Nuclear Plant for Progress Energy, and Vice President of the Turkey Point and St. Lucie nuclear plants for Florida Power and Light.

Jefferson additionally served in positions of increasing responsibility for Exelon Generation Company / PECO Energy Company, including Plant Manager at Susquehanna Electric Company, Senior Manager of Plant Engineering at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, and Manager of Reactor Services at PECO Nuclear.

BOARD AND CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
Jefferson is a dedicated community member and is an active board member of the Columbus Urban League. He currently serves on the Purdue University Nuclear Advisory Board and the Board of Directors for the Southern Gas Association. Previously, he served on the Texas A&M Galveston Academic Advisory Board.

EDUCATION
Jefferson has a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Purdue University and attended the Advanced Management Program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.