Bala Kotharu is a senior Electrical Engineer at Burns & McDonnell with over 10 years’ experience in Transmission and Distribution projects. He is an active member of IEEE PES for over 15 years and a contributing member of IEEE substation Committees for grounding, lighting, Gas Insulated Substations and Resiliency. He has held various positions within the IEEE including R1 Young Professionals Representative, Long Range Planning Committee Member, and USA Energy Policy Committee Member. Bala obtained his bachelors in Electrical Engineering from JNTU India and Masters in Power and Energy Engineering from University of Massachusetts.