The PJM Nominating Committee has selected a West Coast-based energy consultant to fill the open position on the RTO’s Board of Managers.

David Mills, the owner and principal consultant of Eaglecap Energy Consulting in Seattle, has been nominated to fill the seat held by Neil Smith, former CEO of generation developer InterGen. Smith announced his resignation from the board in April because he accepted an executive position with a company that “would have presented a conflict of interest” with PJM. (See Neil Smith Resigns from PJM Board.)

PJM CEO Manu Asthana announced Mills’ nomination in a letter to stakeholders last month.

Mills is a former senior vice president of policy and energy supply with Puget Sound Energy, where he worked for more than 18 years and also served as chief strategy officer.

In his letter, Asthana said Mills has a “demonstrated track record of strategic leadership” in the power and natural gas industries. Mills previously worked for the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and also served as a rescue swimmer and helicopter aircrewman aboard the USS Enterprise in the U.S. Navy.

“The Nominating Committee is confident that David will make significant contributions as a PJM board member,” Asthana said. “David has a great background that is very commercial and very steeped in strategy as well.”

Stakeholders will vote on Mills’ nomination during a special Members Committee meeting July 14.

The Nominating Committee, composed of five sector representatives and three board members, has been especially busy this year.

In April, the committee nominated Paula Conboy, former chair of the Australian Energy Regulator, and Jeanine Johnson, vice president of product security at Netgear, to replace board Chair Ake Almgren and board member John Foster. Stakeholders elected the new members at the Meeting of Members in May. (See PJM Stakeholders Elect New Board Members.)

After Smith announced his resignation in April, the committee resumed its search, assisted by the executive and board search firm Korn Ferry International, to identify a candidate to fill the vacancy.

Asthana acknowledged the committee’s work in the search process, saying it performed well after being called upon to nominate three different board members in less than a year.

“They have put in countless hours,” Asthana said. “They have been incredibly thoughtful and conscientious, and I have been really impressed watching them work.”