John Hawkins, President, Pennsylvania was recently featured in the Pittsburgh Business Times, sharing his insights on leadership, reliability and the work it takes to keep power flowing across our region. The interview highlights investments in infrastructure, storm response and the dedication of our employees who serve customers and communities every day. Read it in its entirety below.

People to Know in Energy: John Hawkins, FirstEnergy, Pennsylvania

By Ethan Lott – Data Editor, Pittsburgh Business Times
March 10, 2026

20 People to Know connects the Pittsburgh business community with influential individuals in their fields. These are not meant to be comprehensive or a ranking, but rather an introduction to some of the behind-the-scenes players, key leaders and up-and-comers.

John Hawkins, who started with FirstEnergy in October 2022 as vice president of operations support and distribution engineering, has been president of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania since June 2024. He describes his role simply: “We keep the lights on. That’s the heart of what we do.” Hawkins’ role is to make sure FirstEnergy’s teams have the tools they need to deliver reliable service every day while it modernizes the grid. Hawkins, a veteran utility executive, previously worked in executive roles at Entergy Louisiana and Florida Power & Light/NextEra Energy Inc., as well as Duke Energy Corp. and Lone Star Transmission.

What drew you to the field of energy work?
I’ve always been drawn to work that matters. Keeping power flowing (especially during extreme weather like storms) comes with real responsibility. The mix of engineering, problem solving and helping communities stay safe and connected is what’s kept me in this field throughout my 25-year career.

Weather events often shine a light on energy transmission. What do you wish people understood better about getting energy to their homes?
Restoring power after storms takes much more than flipping a switch. Severe weather can heavily damage equipment, and repairs often require hours of hands-on work in tough conditions. Our crews work around the clock to assess damage, replace equipment and safely restore service. Reliability truly depends on their skill and dedication.

How is West Penn Power strengthening infrastructure and emergency response to reduce storm impacts?
Over the next five years, we’re investing $15 billion in Pennsylvania to upgrade infrastructure, strengthen our teams and improve systems that reduce outages and speed restoration. We’re adding more automated technology and completing proactive maintenance and annual storm drills to help us respond faster and reduce outages during storms.

How would you measure success for FirstEnergy and West Penn in the region under your leadership?
Success means everyone goes home safely every day. It also means a more reliable grid, satisfied customers and strong support for local growth. If we’re reducing outages, building trust and helping communities thrive, then we’re achieving what matters most.

What’s the most challenging shift you remember — and why does it stand out?
The pandemic was the toughest time in my career. Everything about how we worked and supported customers changed overnight. We had to adapt fast while keeping everyone safe. It wasn’t easy, but it showed me just how resilient and committed our teams really are.

If your job had a theme song, what would it be?
I would list Rihanna’s song “Work,” given the unprecedented demand we are seeing for load growth currently in our industry. If I could change the name, I would change it to “Rewarding Work.”