John McDonald

HOD LEADER

John McDonald is a distinguished professional in the utility sector with a robust background in organizational effectiveness, maintenance, work management, and safety. Before working with Upperform Partners, John McDonald developed an extensive background in the regulated utilities industry, with over four decades of experience spanning construction, work management, maintenance, and operations support.

John’s career began at Diablo Canyon and Plant Vogtle 1&2 during their construction phases, where he served as a Field Engineering Assistant. Throughout his time at Diablo Canyon, he held various positions, including planning, scheduling, maintenance supervisor, maintenance manager, and assistant to the maintenance director.

After 25 years at Diablo Canyon, McDonald transitioned to Southern Nuclear, where he played a pivotal role in Corporate Functional Area Monitoring, focusing on both outage and online work management for the nuclear fleet. His expertise further led him to the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), where he has been instrumental in leading maintenance and work management initiatives. At INPO, McDonald has significantly contributed to the industry by developing key metrics and tools, conducting comprehensive training, and sharing best practices across the global nuclear community. His work has not only supported utilities in the United States but has also extended to international locations such as Japan, China, Slovakia, and South Africa.

McDonald's leadership and innovative approach to work management have been recognized through his long-standing participation and chairmanship in the Work Management Working Group. His efforts have continually driven excellence and safety within the industry, reflecting a personal mission to promote the highest levels of operational safety and reliability.