John Hairston

John Hairston, named BPA administrator and CEO in January 2021, is responsible for managing the nonprofit federal power administration headquartered in Portland, Oregon. 

BPA markets wholesale, carbon-free power from federally owned Columbia River Basin hydroelectric dams and the region's one nuclear plant, serving more than 140 electric utilities that distribute power to millions of consumers. Bonneville also operates most of the high-voltage power grid across the Pacific Northwest, providing service to more than 300 transmission customers across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and parts of California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.

Hairston, who joined BPA in 1991, previously served as chief operating officer where he oversaw Power Services, Transmission Services, Customer Support Services, the Business Transformation Office, and Environment, Fish and Wildlife.

Hairston also served as BPA’s first chief administrative officer. In this role, he provided policy and strategic guidance concerning BPA’s internal operations and oversaw Safety, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Workplace Services, Information Technology, and Security and Continuity of Operations.

Hairston began his career at BPA as an economist in the Rates Forecasting and Rate Design organizations. He served in various positions in Energy Efficiency until 2006 when he was named BPA’s chief compliance officer, leading the development and implementation of the Compliance and Governance organization to assure agency compliance with regulatory rules and standards.

During Hairston’s tenure, BPA has preserved reliable power and transmission service during record-setting weather events, maintained competitive rates and made significant progress toward agency strategic priorities. His accomplishments include leading BPA's participation in its first organized energy market; delivering long-term power contracts through the Provider of Choice process that will supply regional customers through 2044; and prioritizing grid expansion through $5 billion in high-voltage transmission system investments that will enable significant load growth and the addition of more generation. 

Also under Hairston’s leadership, BPA played a key role in the U.S. government’s successful negotiation of the Columbia River Treaty agreement in principle with Canada. In addition, BPA and its federal partners entered a 20-year agreement with several upper Columbia River tribes to test the reintroduction of hatchery salmon above Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams. 

Hairston holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Southern University. He also has a master’s degree in urban studies from Portland State University and a Juris Doctorate from Lewis & Clark Law School.