Pepco Holdings, which includes Atlantic City Electric and Delmarva Power, has named Phil Vavala as its new vice president of Governmental and External Affairs, and region president for Atlantic City Electric and Delmarva Power.

Vavala, who previously served as the vice president of gas and electric operations for Pepco Holdings, has led innovative and strategic approaches to strengthening the local energy grid and delivering safe and reliable energy service to the customers and communities it serves. Under his leadership, customers have experienced record-breaking reliability for homes and businesses across South Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Vavala joined Pepco Holdings 33 years ago as an intern in Delmarva Power’s System Planning department and went on to hold positions throughout Operations, including senior supervising engineer, manager of Control Room Operations for Atlantic City Electric and Delmarva Power, director of Regional Electric Operations for Delmarva Power and director of Transmission & Substation Engineering for Pepco Holdings. In his most recent role as vice president of Electric and Gas Operations, Vavala led the organization responsible for day-to-day operations of the electric and gas distribution system.

“Phil understands our communities from a unique perspective, not only raising his family in this area and being a customer himself but starting as an intern and growing through the organization for more than 30 years has truly given him an understanding of what it means to power a brighter future for our customers,” said Rodney Oddoye, senior vice president of Governmental, Regulatory and External Affairs at Pepco Holdings. “His leadership and drive not only help ensure the lights turn on when customers flip the switch and gas flows when they heat their home but goes beyond energy to making a positive impact on our communities.”

Vavala has served as chairman of the Pepco Holdings and Exelon Diverse Business Enterprise Working Group, focusing on developing spending opportunities with minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses and leading in the company’s commitment to provide more than energy for its customers.

Vavala is a graduate of Drexel University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Together with his wife Katherine, they are lifelong residents of the region and have raised their three children here.