Ara Johns, NCSO

Ara Johns, NCSO, has a diverse work experience in the energy and power sector. They started their career as a Plant Equipment Operator at Gulf Power Company in 2000, where they operated coal-fired units and performed various maintenance tasks. In 2010, they joined Georgia Power Company as a Power System Coordinator, responsible for operating the Georgia Integrated Transmission System and maintaining system voltage.

In 2013, Ara moved to Southern Company as a Fleet Ops Coordinator Sr., where they managed the dispatch of generation assets and power purchase agreements. They also forecasted daily load and communicated unit outages to upper-level management.

Later, in 2014, Ara returned to Georgia Power Company as a Power System Coordinator Sr., where they continued to coordinate daily switching orders and ensure compliance with industry standards.

Ara's next career move was to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) in 2015. There, they served as a Senior Bulk Power System Awareness Analyst, providing expertise in analyzing and monitoring the reliability of the bulk power system. They held this role until 2020 and later resumed it temporarily from 2018 to 2020.

Most recently, in 2023, Ara joined ReliabilityFirst Corporation as a Senior Analyst - Operational Analysis and Awareness, where they focus on analyzing and increasing operational awareness within the organization.

Overall, Ara Johns has built a solid background in power system operations, reliability analysis, and coordination, making them a valuable asset in the energy sector.

Ara Johns, NCSO has a diverse education history. In 1992, they obtained a diploma from Rutherford High School. Later, in 1996, they enrolled in Gulf Coast State College, focusing on the field of study in business. More recently, from 2016 to 2017, Ara attended Bismarck State College, where they earned a degree in Electrical Transmission System Technology. Alongside their education, they have also obtained certifications as a Reliability Coordinator and a Transmission Operator from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.