10 Xcel Energy operations leaders
Executive vice president and chief operations officer, regional vice president, senior director, director of operations and plant director are among the roles held by these ten Xcel Energy operations leaders. A reader can learn how operations leaders work at Xcel Energy from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Brent Heffington
LinkedInExperience: Regional Vice President of Energy Supply Operations, Texas and New Mexico · Xcel Energy
Brent Heffington has been Regional Vice President of Energy Supply Operations, Texas and New Mexico at Xcel Energy since November 2025, based in Amarillo, Texas. Brent Heffington was Senior Plant Director at Xcel Energy (2025) and PNM Managing Director of Generation at Public Service Company of New Mexico (2021–2024).
Brian Behm
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director - Shurburne County (Sherco) Power Plant · Xcel Energy
Brian Behm has been Senior Director - Shurburne County (Sherco) Power Plant at Xcel Energy since September 2025, based in St Paul, Minnesota. Brian Behm was Plant Director - Allen S. King and Bayfront Power Plants (2018–2025) and Plant Director (2012–2018) at Xcel Energy.
Debbie Hall
LinkedInExperience: Plant Director · Xcel Energy
Debbie Hall has been Plant Director at Xcel Energy since January 2025, based in Brighton, Colorado, and the profile headline names the Pawnee and Manchief generating stations. Debbie Hall was Sr. Operations Manager (2022–2025) and Operations Manager - Rocky Mountain & Blue Spruce Energy Centers (2021–2022) at Xcel Energy.
Gilbert R. Salazar
LinkedInExperience: Regional Vice President · Xcel Energy
Gilbert R. Salazar has been Regional Vice President at Xcel Energy since June 2024, based in the Denver area, and the profile headline names electric distribution operations. Gilbert R. Salazar was Director, Distribution Operations at DTE Energy (2022–2024).
Gregory Lee
LinkedInExperience: Regional Vice President for NSP Distribution Operations · Xcel Energy
Gregory Lee has been Regional Vice President for NSP Distribution Operations at Xcel Energy since December 2025, based in the United States. Gregory Lee was Vice President Operations (2024–2025) and Sr. Director of Operations (2022–2024) at Mears Group, Inc.
Heather Sturgeon
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director of LNG LPG Gas Plants · Xcel Energy
Heather Sturgeon has been Senior Director of LNG LPG Gas Plants at Xcel Energy since May 2026, based in Burnsville, Minnesota. Heather Sturgeon was Director of LNG LPG Gas Plants Operations (2022–2026) and Equipment Reliability Manager (2021–2022) at Xcel Energy.
Jeff Anderson
LinkedInExperience: Director of Operations · Xcel Energy
Jeff Anderson has been Director of Operations at Xcel Energy since October 2025, based in the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area. Jeff Anderson was Director of Engineering (2024–2025), Outage Manager (2019–2024) and Operations Shift Manager (2018–2019) at Xcel Energy.
Kevin Joyce
LinkedInExperience: Regional Vice President Gas Operations · Xcel Energy
Kevin Joyce has been Regional Vice President Gas Operations at Xcel Energy since April 2026, based in St Paul, Minnesota. Kevin Joyce was Sr. Director Gas Plants (2022–2026), Director - Gas Programs (2020–2022) and Director - Gas Utility Emergency Response (2015–2020) at Xcel Energy.
Nicholas Dillon
LinkedInExperience: Plant Director · Xcel Energy
Nicholas Dillon has been Plant Director at Xcel Energy since November 2025, based in Broomfield, Colorado. Nicholas Dillon was Senior Operations Manager (2021–2025) and Operations Manager (2015–2021) at Xcel Energy, and Nuclear Engineering Laboratory Technician at US Navy (2009–2015).
Timothy O'Connor
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer · Xcel Energy
Timothy O'Connor has been Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Xcel Energy since August 2021, based in Minneapolis, and the profile describes responsibility for all generation assets. Timothy O'Connor was Executive Vice President and Chief Generation Officer (2020–2021) and Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer (2013–2020) at Xcel Energy.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's area, such as power generation, gas operations or electric distribution, and their region to the decision you face. Weigh how recently each person took the role and how close their plant or territory sits to your question.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you set safety, reliability and cost priorities for the operation you ran?
- 02What did you learn about running plants or field crews through peak demand and storms?
- 03How did you decide where to invest in maintenance and reliability for the assets you ran?
Reaching Xcel Energy operations 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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