Eric Easton, Ph.D., P.E.
About Eric Easton, Ph.D., P.E.
Eric Easton, Ph.D., P.E., serves as the Vice President of Real-Time Operations at CenterPoint Energy, where he has worked in various engineering and management roles since 2007. He holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering and has a strong focus on the technical analysis and operation of power systems.
Current Role at CenterPoint Energy
Eric Easton serves as the Vice President of Real-Time Operations at CenterPoint Energy, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he provides executive leadership to real-time electricity operations in both Texas and Indiana. His responsibilities include enhancing alignment within the organization and championing technological advances in operating systems. Prior to this role, he was the Director of Real-Time Operations at CenterPoint Energy for six years, starting in 2018.
Previous Experience at CenterPoint Energy
Eric Easton has extensive experience at CenterPoint Energy, having held several positions since 2007. He began as a Real-Time Operations Engineer, progressing to Senior Engineer in 2009. After a brief tenure as an Asset Management Consultant in 2012, he became the Manager of Substation Engineering, a role he occupied until 2018. He also served as Lead Engineer for Transmission Protection from 2010 to 2012. His cumulative experience at CenterPoint Energy spans over a decade.
Education and Expertise
Eric Easton holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Systems Engineering from Texas Tech University, where he studied from 2012 to 2019. He also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nebraska at Omaha between 2004 and 2006. Additionally, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from Prairie View A&M University from 1998 to 2002. His academic background supports his professional focus on the technical analysis, planning, design, and operation of power systems.
Career Background in Power Systems
Before joining CenterPoint Energy, Eric Easton worked at Omaha Public Power District as a Transmission & Distribution Engineer from 2002 to 2007. This role provided him with foundational experience in the power industry. His career has been characterized by a focus on modeling and simulation, as well as the review and evaluation of financial and policy implications on system operations and business processes.
Professional Development and Training
Eric Easton prioritizes continued training to stay current with the evolving technical and market aspects of the energy industry. His commitment to professional development ensures that he remains informed about the latest advancements and best practices in real-time operations and power systems management.