Halpin has nearly 21-year career at STP Nuclear has spanned two nuclear plant eras, from the completion and startup of Units 1 & 2 to the current licensing and construction planning for the new Units 3 & 4.
Halpin joined STP Nuclear in 1988 after graduating with honors from the U.S. Naval Academy and serving as a naval officer on a nuclear-powered submarine. While at the Naval Academy, Halpin earned a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering and was named a National Collegiate Boxing Association All-American in 1983.
In 2002, he graduated as valedictorian with a master’s degree in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University. Halpin is currently in his second year of doctorate studies in human and organizational development through Fielding Graduate University.
In addition, Halpin serves on several Boards and Steering Committees to help shape the future of nuclear power in our country. Locally, he is a member of the Brazosport College Foundation Board.
“Leading this great company has been a privilege and an honor,” Sheppard said. “This is a bittersweet moment for me because I will miss STP Nuclear and its extraordinary team. However, there is no one I would rather turn the company over to more than Ed Halpin. He has an incredible work ethic coupled with an exceptional intellect and a very strong moral compass. Ed is a truly outstanding leader.”
The company is making the announcement now to allow for a transition period. Sheppard and Halpin will work together to ensure a seamless transition of leadership with a focus on the continued safe and reliable operation of Units 1 & 2, and the licensing and construction of Units 3 & 4.
“I think the most important thing in planning any transition is to make it smooth and seamless,” Sheppard said. “From a personal standpoint, I have reached the point in my life where I need to make a transition,” said Sheppard, 60. “We have a detailed succession planning process at STP Nuclear and we have worked diligently to develop and build a strong leadership team.”
“I am very confident that Ed is the right person to lead our company forward,” Sheppard said. “He has the experience and expertise to build on the accomplishments that we’ve had over the past five years, and to lead our company in the licensing and construction of Units 3 & 4.”
Sheppard and Halpin have led an outstanding team of dedicated employees at STP Nuclear who have achieved safe, world-class performance. The company has set the standard for sustained operational and financial excellence, with performance benchmarks that are unparalleled in the industry.
For five consecutive years, STP Nuclear has led all two-unit nuclear facilities in the country in energy production.
October 2008, the facility completed its fourth consecutive breaker-to-breaker production run, setting a 50-year industry record.
STP Nuclear is the only repeat winner of the industry’s top honor – the B. Ralph Sylvia Best of the Best Award, which the plant has received three times.
The company also received Top Industry Practice awards from the Nuclear Energy Institute in 2004, 2005, and 2008, bringing STP Nuclear’s total to seven TIP awards – more than any other plant.
In addition, the company is an industry leader in the licensing and construction of STP Nuclear Units 3 & 4, which will add 2,700-megawatts of carbon-free energy in Texas – enough to power more than two million homes. STP Nuclear anticipates receiving the combined operating license for the new units in 2012 and having them online in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
