10 Southern Company engineering leaders
Engineering directors, chief engineers and gas engineering design leaders at Southern Company and Southern Company Gas make up this list of utility engineering leaders. A reader can learn how engineering leaders work at Southern Company from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Andy Hammerschmidt
LinkedInExperience: Director - Reservoir Engineering · Southern Company Gas
Andy Hammerschmidt has been Director - Reservoir Engineering at Southern Company Gas since October 2017, based in Naperville, Illinois. Andy Hammerschmidt was Project Director at UniversalPegasus International from 2016 to 2017 and R&D Director, PMO at GTI Energy from 2012 to 2016.
Bryan Griner
LinkedInExperience: Engineering CFAM Director · Southern Company
Bryan Griner has been Engineering CFAM Director at Southern Company since July 2020 and is also shown as Director of Engineering at Southern Nuclear since January 2024. Bryan Griner was Fleet Engineering Director at Southern Company from 2019 to 2020 and Fleet Engineering Design Director there from 2014 to 2019.
Darryl Wall
LinkedInExperience: Director, Office of Corporate Engineering · Southern Company Gas
Darryl Wall is a former Director, Office of Corporate Engineering at Southern Company Gas, a role held from 2017 to 2022, and was Director of Construction Risk there from 2022 to 2024. Darryl Wall has been Manager of Process Engineering & Chemistry at Southern Company since March 2024.
Faramarz Pournia
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Southern Company
Faramarz Pournia is a former Director of Engineering at Southern Company, a role held from 2013 to 2023 that the profile describes as Southern Nuclear Fleet Risk Assessment & safety analysis Engineering Director, responsible for all Engineering activities supporting the safe and reliable operation of Southern Nuclear. Faramarz Pournia has been a Sr Nuclear Consultant at Independent Power Consultant since 2023.
James Viikinsalo
LinkedInExperience: Chief Engineer, Bulk Power Operations · Southern Company
James Viikinsalo has been Chief Engineer, Bulk Power Operations at Southern Company since October 2024 and, according to the profile, is participating in a system-wide task force. James Viikinsalo was Principal Engineer, Bulk Power Operations at Southern Company from 2000 to 2024 and an Engineer, Transmission Planning there from 1993 to 2000.
Julio César Lois
LinkedInExperience: Director of Product Delivery, Architecture, and Software Engineering Excellence · Southern Company
Julio César Lois has been Director of Product Delivery, Architecture, and Software Engineering Excellence at Southern Company since January 2026. Julio César Lois was Sr. Manager, Software Development and Product Delivery at Southern Company from 2023 to 2026 and Software Development Manager there from 2022 to 2023.
Kate (Hood) Rendak, PE
LinkedInExperience: Director, Engineering · Southern Company Gas
Kate (Hood) Rendak, PE has been Director, Engineering at Southern Company Gas since January 2025. Kate (Hood) Rendak was Manager, Engineering Design there from 2024 to 2025, Manager, System Planning from 2020 to 2024 and Manager, Material Standards and Testing from 2015 to 2020.
Rob Hembree
LinkedInExperience: Director, Engineering Design, Southern & Mid-Atlantic Operations · Southern Company Gas
Rob Hembree has been Director, Engineering Design, Southern & Mid-Atlantic Operations at Southern Company Gas since December 2016, based in Marietta, Georgia. Rob Hembree is also shown as Director - Construction Shared Services at AGL Resources from 2007 and was an Engineer at AGL Resources from 2003 to 2007.
Thomas Jackson
LinkedInExperience: Deputy Engineering Director · Southern Company
Thomas Jackson is a former Deputy Engineering Director at Southern Company, a role held from 2021 to 2024, and has been Site Systems Senior Manager at Southern Company since March 2024. Thomas Jackson was Design Task Engineering Manager at Southern Company from 2018 to 2020 and an Engineering Supervisor there from 2013 to 2018.
William A. Munn, P.E.
LinkedInExperience: Chief Engineer · Southern Company
William A. Munn, P.E. has been Chief Engineer at Southern Company since January 2023 and was a Principal Engineer there from 2003 to 2023. William A. Munn was an Engineer at PowerSouth Energy Cooperative from 1999 to 2002 and an Aircraft Electrician with the US Navy from 1990 to 1993.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's engineering area to your question, since gas system design, power plant fleet engineering and bulk power operations raise different questions. Check the dates on each row so you know whether the person is describing current practice or a past role.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you set engineering priorities when reliability work and capital projects competed for the same people?
- 02What did you change in how engineering standards were written and kept up to date in your group?
- 03How did your engineering team work with operations and construction crews when a design had to change in the field?
Reaching Southern Company engineering leaders
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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