Thomas W. Richards

Thomas W. Richards, P.E. is Director of Electric & Gas Systems for the Fort Pierce, Fla., Utilities Authority (FPUA), and he serves as the elected Chairman of the Executive Committee.

He has been employed by FPUA since 1991. Prior to his current position, Richards served in various management positions at FPUA including Director of System Operations, Director of Operations and Director of Electric System.

Richards has more than 44 years of experience in various engineering, administrative, supervisory, marketing and management capacities related to electric and natural gas utilities. Prior to joining FPUA, Richards served three years as Marketing Manager with an engineering consulting firm in Toledo, Ohio, four years as General Manager for the municipal electric utility in Traverse City, Mich., and 15 years in various technical and administrative capacities at a large Michigan-based gas and electric utility.

Richards was elected as FMPA’s Executive Committee Chairman in July 2008. Richards served as Chairman of FMPA’s All-Requirements Project from 2000 to 2003 and has served as an Alternate to the Board of Directors since 1991. He also serves on FMPA’s Audit and Risk Oversight Committee. In other activities, Richards served as President of the Sunrise Fort Pierce Rotary Club, and he is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Richards is a registered professional engineer in the state of Florida. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, a master’s degree in systems science and a master’s degree in business administration, all from Michigan State University.