Charles R. Patton

Charles R. Patton is an experienced board member and infrastructure thought leader with 38+ years of game-changing results with repeated success driving transformative business and cultural turnarounds. Prior to his retirement, Charles was Executive Vice President-External Affairs at American Electric Power Co., Inc. (AEP). In this role, he led AEP’s customer services, communications, regulatory, NERC Compliance, federal public policy, and corporate sustainability organizations.

Prior to these responsibilities, Patton served in numerous executive positions throughout his tenure with AEP. He has served as Executive Vice President – AEP West Utilities, Chief Human Resource Officer, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Policy, and the president and chief operating officer of two AEP subsidiaries: Appalachian Power and AEP Texas, each company serving over one million customers in West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee and South and West Texas, respectively.

Prior to joining AEP in 2005, he spent approximately 11 years in the energy and telecommunications business with Houston Lighting & Power Company. During his tenure in Texas, Texas Gov. George Bush appointed Patton to serve on the Texas Energy Coordination Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. Later, Gov. Rick Perry appointed Patton to the Texas Energy Planning Council, established to advise the governor on energy matters.

Patton is currently on the Board of Directors for Sterling Infrastructure Company, Messer Construction, Ameresco Incorporated, and the Centuri Advisory Board. Previously, he served on the boards of the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank, National Association of Manufacturers, United States Energy Association and Center for Workforce Development. He currently serves on the executive committee of the Mid-Ohio YMCA. While at AEP, he was an Executive Sponsor of the Black Employee and Pride Resource Groups.