![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20170104074026im_/https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/PublishingImages/2013/20130220-home-Bill-Drummond-Swearing-in.jpg)
Bill Drummond (left), accompanied by his wife, Elizabeth, takes the oath of office, which was administered by Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Daniel Poneman.
It was standing room only Feb. 7 as Bill Drummond took the oath of office as the new administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration at a special ceremony at the agency’s headquarters in Portland, Ore. More than 500 employees, customers and regional stakeholders witnessed the swearing-in ceremony and another 500 hundred BPA employees from locations throughout the Northwest watched the proceedings over a live webcast. Click here to watch some highlights from the special ceremony.
Daniel Poneman, deputy secretary of the Department of Energy, administered the oath, making Drummond the 14th administrator in BPA’s 75-year history.
“The Bonneville Power Administration is truly fortunate to have Bill Drummond as its new administrator to lead the agency,” Poneman said. “Drummond has a stellar track record during his time at BPA and throughout his career in the energy sector, and I am fully confident in his ability to provide the highest level of leadership and service to BPA’s customers, constituents and employees.”
Acting Chief Operating Officer Kim Leathley opened the short program. Former BPA Administrator Steve Wright made a few remarks and introduced Deputy Secretary Poneman.
Poneman highlighted BPA’s legacy and its leadership role in the region and the nation. He thanked departing Administrator Steve Wright for his outstanding service and described why Drummond was the clear choice for the agency’s next chief.
After taking his oath of office and receiving a standing ovation from the crowd, Drummond spoke for several minutes. “I’m humbled by the support I have received and am incredibly excited by the opportunity we have together,” he said. Drummond outlined his vision of the agency’s mission and said that he’s enthused to come to work each day because BPA employees are a smart, dedicated and amazing group of people.
Drummond had served as BPA’s deputy administrator since October 2011. Before joining BPA, Drummond was manager of the Western Montana Electric Generating and Transmission Cooperative in Missoula, Montana, for 17 years. From 1988 to 1994, he led the Public Power Council, an association of Northwest publicly-owned utilities. During his 30 years in the energy industry, Drummond has been a leader on many regional task forces and committees, including the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Northwest Wind Integration Forum and Northwest Energy Efficiency Task Force. Nationally, he has served on committees of the American Public Power Association and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Drummond holds degrees in forestry from the University of Montana and economics from the University of Arizona.
As administrator and chief executive officer, Drummond is responsible for managing the non-profit federal agency, which markets carbon-free power from Columbia River hydroelectric dams and the region's one nuclear plant. BPA also operates most of the surrounding power grid, distributing wind and other energy to the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
The Energy Department conducted a competitive process under the federal civil service rules to select a new BPA administrator. BPA has annual revenues exceeding $3.2 billion, over 3,100 full-time employees, and employs approximately 1,500 contractors.