John R. McGaha became president of Entergy Nuclear South in March 2000. Entergy Corporation, through its Entergy Nuclear South subsidiary, operates five nuclear units in its retail electric service area: two-units at Arkansas Nuclear One and single units at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, River Bend Station, and Waterford 3.

McGaha has more than 20 years of experience with Entergy's nuclear program. He started his Entergy career in 1978 at the Waterford 3 plant in Taft, La., near New Orleans, advancing to the position of general manager of plant operations.

McGaha was promoted to vice president of operations support for Entergy Nuclear South in 1991, where he coordinated support services for all the nuclear units at the company's nuclear headquarters in Jackson, Miss. Concurrent with Entergy's December 1993 merger with Gulf States Utilities, McGaha was named vice president of River Bend Station in St. Francisville, La., where performance in most industry indicators was lagging. Under McGaha's leadership, the plant was integrated into Entergy Nuclear South, and major improvement plans were developed and implemented that set the plant on an impressive improving trend.

McGaha was promoted in September 1998 to executive vice president and chief operating officer of Entergy Nuclear South.

Before joining Entergy, McGaha was an electrical design engineer for Brown & Root, Inc. for three years, and he served in the U.S. Navy nuclear submarine program for five years. In 1994 he retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve with the rank of captain.

McGaha is a graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering, and he has completed Harvard University's Advanced Management Program. He is a registered professional engineer and received his senior reactor operator management certification at Waterford 3.

Topic: Panel Presentation : National Energy Policy and the Future of Energy Production.

Summary :

High Level U.S. government and industry officials/stakeholders will discuss U.S. energy policy, related issues and the focus of the electrical generation industry - on a local, national and global basis.