Lincoln Electric System (les.com) has named Paul Crist chief operating officer, effective Aug. 1. The appointment, made after a national search, reestablishes the position for the first time since 2015, strengthening the leadership of the utility’s core operations.
Crist brings more than 35 years of utility experience to the role, including more than two decades in leadership positions at LES. Since joining the utility as a distribution design engineering aide in 1990, he has served in a variety of leadership roles spanning operations, technology and energy delivery. Most recently, he served as vice president of Energy Delivery.
Throughout his career, Crist has played a key role in strengthening the reliability, security and performance of LES’ electric system. As chief operating officer, he oversees LES’ core utility operations, including generation, transmission and distribution. Additionally, Crist helps guide the utility’s efforts to deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable electric service while preparing for evolving customer expectations, emerging technologies and continued infrastructure investment.
Crist also serves on several regional and national industry organizations, including the University of Nebraska Computer and Electrical Engineering Industry Advisory Board and the Midwest Reliability Organization. His involvement helps keep LES connected to industry best practices and discussions shaping the future of the electric utility sector.
Crist earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A native of Loup City, Nebraska, Crist and his wife, Carla, have four children: Andrew, Ben, David and Jon Paul. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors, fishing and spending time with family. For more information, visit les.com.