Southwest Power Pool (SPP)announced the pending retirement of a longtime, highly respected member of its executive team and the promotion of another long-tenured leader who will fill the position.
Senior Vice President of Operations Bruce Rew will retire from SPP in December of 2025. C.J. Brown will become vice president of operations beginning October 1, 2025, ensuring a smooth transition for this critical role during the overlapping months. Brown will report to SPP Chief Operating Officer Antoine Lucas.
The position oversees SPP’s regional operations center, the central hub from which the regional transmission organization coordinates the operation of the bulk power grid across a 14-state-and-growing region. SPP’s operations organization includes engineering, business support, and real-time grid operator functions that all contribute to the reliability and market-based services SPP provides its members and contract customers.
“We can’t begin to thank Bruce adequately for his three-plus decades of service to SPP,” Lucas said. “He’s incredibly valued and well-respected across the board for his leadership and dedication. For years, he’s driven successful development of innovative services and projects for our members. The organization will remain in excellent hands with C.J. who brings a strong operational background, solid relationships, and proven initiative in meeting the operational challenges of the future.”
Rew previously served as vice president of engineering and in several other management and engineering positions since joining SPP in 1990. His notable projects include assisting SPP’s Regional State Committee in developing a process for allocating transmission costs region-wide, developing tariff language allowing customers to fund transmission projects and implementing SPP’s first energy management and tariff billing system. Prior to joining SPP, Rew served in the U.S. Air Force as a member of a nuclear missile launch crew.
“I retire with gratitude for the more than 35 years working together with SPP members to responsibly and economically enhance the electric grid in our region,” Rew said. “The services SPP provide have changed dramatically over that time, but the power of relationships has remained a constant driving force for our region.”
Brown currently serves as senior director of system operations policy and performance support at SPP. He’s worked for SPP for 19 years, including the last eight years as a direct report to Rew. Prior to joining SPP, Brown worked several years for electric cooperatives in Arkansas and Missouri.
Brown oversaw SPP’s grid operations through some of the most challenging conditions in the region’s history, navigating Winter Storms Uri, Elliott, and Gerri and summer seasons with historically high temperatures and electricity use. He has held roles in generation, power marketing, market monitoring and system operations. His current responsibilities include oversight of real-time operations policy and support for SPP’s operator training, market operations, balancing authority and reliability coordination functions.
“It’s a true honor to be selected to step into the VP of operations role and follow Bruce, who has been a pillar at SPP,” said Brown. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team. Together, I look forward to continuing the important work of addressing our generational challenge and building on the strong foundation Bruce helped create.”
