Edward Drew to Lead NRTC’s Utility Division
Experience in Advanced Metering to Benefit Electric Cooperative Members
DATE: July 23, 2009
Contact: Andrea Cumpston
703-787-7156
July 23, 2009 [Herndon, VA]— The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative today announced Edward Drew as its vice president of Utility Solutions, the division dedicated to providing solutions for its utility members, including advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). His more than 10 years of experience in the electric utility market and telecommunications will boost NRTC’s ability to serve its electric cooperative members engaged in deploying the smart grid and other mission-critical products and services.
“Ed Drew brings to NRTC a background in many of the technologies that are proving important to rural deployment of the smart grid, including AMI,” said NRTC Senior Vice President for Business Operations Jack Harvey. “His experience with wireless machine-to-machine communications brings expertise to NRTC that will benefit members who look to us for support of the advanced technologies that will enable the smart grid,” he continued.
Secure two-way communications are vital to utility applications, including AMI, workforce management and communications. By providing the hybrid solutions that enable secure communications and data transmission, including access to reliable 220 MHz, WiMAX and other wireless spectrum, NRTC is helping its members meet their mission while reducing costs.
“My first priority at NRTC will be to better understand the needs of rural cooperatives and to implement cost-effective smart-grid strategies and technologies to improve operating efficiencies and adapt to the changing utility environment,” said Ed Drew.
Prior to joining NRTC, Mr. Drew served as director of national utility market development
for Kore Telematics and held positions with Corporate Systems Engineering, LLC, CURRENT
Group, LLC, Alcatel and Texas Instruments Semiconductors. In addition, he served as
Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Nuclear Submarine Force. Ed Drew earned a Bachelor of Science in
computer science from the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD.
About NRTC
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) represents the advanced
telecommunications and information technology interests of more than 1,400 rural utilities and
affiliates in 48 states. Founded in 1986, NRTC provides products and services developed
specifically to meet the needs of rural utilities and their customers, such as high-speed Internet
access via satellite, full service Internet access and support, advanced metering infrastructure,
SmartSCADA, wireless technologies, power quality products, long distance programs, mobile phone
service, IP backbone services, direct broadcast satellite service (DBS) with DIRECTV and
programming for Internet protocol television (IPTV). For more information, visit
www.nrtc.coop.
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