ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association today applauded President Trump’s appointment of Ken Johnson, general manager of Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, as USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Administrator.
“We are excited and thrilled that Ken has been selected to lead the RUS program. Electric cooperatives have a storied history of working with RUS to power the rural American economy,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “The ongoing collaboration between RUS and electric co-ops remains essential to the success of rural communities across the nation as co-ops invest in infrastructure upgrades to modernize the grid and meet consumer expectations. Ken is exceptionally qualified to serve in this role and we look forward to working with him in his new capacity.”
“Ken Johnson is one of the top co-op managers I have ever worked with in my 40 year career,” said Barry Hart, executive vice president and CEO of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. “He has never forgotten that he works for the co-op members at the end of the line. When the members of Co-Mo electric cooperative told the co-op they wanted access to high-speed Internet services, Ken worked with his staff and found a way to deliver what the members wanted. Because of Ken’s leadership, Co-Mo’s members today enjoy internet with speeds of up to 1 Gigabit and access to the latest technology.”
USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) administers programs that provide infrastructure or infrastructure improvements to rural communities. These include electric power, water and waste treatment, and telecommunications services.
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.
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