FirstEnergy Corp. announced on April 9 the appointment of Brian Harrell, a former senior U.S. homeland security official, as Vice President and Chief Security Officer. Harrell will lead efforts to enhance enterprise security across the company’s operations, reporting directly to Chief Operating Officer Toby Thomas.
The decision comes as utilities face growing cyber and physical threats that could affect critical infrastructure and customer service. FirstEnergy provides electricity to more than 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York according to the official website.
Harrell’s responsibilities will include overseeing corporate and field security, cybersecurity operations around the clock, threat intelligence, risk management and compliance. He is tasked with embedding security into business planning while focusing on training for both corporate staff and field teams. Thomas said: “Brian has led security programs that connect intelligence to action in complex, highly regulated environments. That experience will be critical as we strengthen protections across our system and ensure our teams in the field have the tools, training and clarity they need to respond to evolving risks.”
Harrell brings experience from previous roles at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Avangrid Energy where he was Vice President and Chief Security Officer overseeing multi-state operations, Duke Energy and North American Electric Reliability Corporation. In these positions he worked closely with federal partners on infrastructure protection initiatives.
“Security only works when it’s understood and practiced at every level of the organization,” Harrell said. “That foundation is essential to a resilient grid, which underpins the strength of our communities, the economy and national security. Sophisticated threats aren’t slowing, so we will continue to invest in cybersecurity and risk reduction measures to maintain a reliable and secure system while strengthening training and readiness for our teams in the field.”
FirstEnergy manages about 24,000 miles of transmission lines along with over 269,000 miles of distribution lines according to its official website. The company focuses on corporate responsibility through environmental initiatives aimed at benefiting stakeholders according to its official website. FirstEnergy has also been recognized for compliance leadership as well as awards related to environmental efforts and military-friendly practices according to its official website.
Looking ahead, FirstEnergy aims to operate as a progressive electric utility focused on integrity and reliability supported by a diverse workforce committed to improving customer experiences alongside community strength according to its official website.
