Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO) is proud to announce that Dick Pursley, Great River Energy’s Director of Operations and Transmission Services, has been named the recipient of this year’s HERO Award. Since the inception of the Reliability Advisory Council (RAC) in 2019, Pursley has played a pivotal role, serving as chair from 2021 to 2023. His contributions date back even further, having been a member of the former MRO Operating Committee since 2010.

Pursley was instrumental in launching the inaugural Cold Weather Preparedness Workshop in 2021, a direct response to the impacts of Winter Storm Uri on the southern portions of MRO’s territory. He has also actively participated in MRO’s Generator Winterization Program and hosted tours to support its objectives. Under Pursley’s leadership, the RAC held its first offsite conference in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2022.

As a RAC member, Pursley has contributed to various planning subgroups, authored several newsletter articles, and supported numerous outreach and training initiatives. He has also been an integral part of the review teams for MRO’s Summer and Winter Assessments.

This annual HERO Award serves as a peer recognition program for individuals who have set standards of excellence aligned with the principles of High Reliability Organizations (HROs). MRO’s mission is to identify, prioritize and assure effective and efficient mitigation of risks to the reliability and security of the North American bulk power system by promoting Highly Effective Reliability Organizations^® (HEROs).

Pursley’s exemplary leadership reflects a strong commitment to HRO principles, particularly his preoccupation with failure and risk and reluctance to simplify interpretation, as demonstrated through his involvement in the ERO Enterprise Event Analysis Program. His commitment to resilience is clear during quarterly discussions with MRO staff and the region’s Reliability and Planning Coordinators—a practice Pursley helped established during his tenure as RAC chair. Additionally, his sensitivity to operations and deference to expertise were showcased by inviting experts to discuss significant system events at RAC meetings, fostering a culture of collaboration and shared learning.

Selected from a competitive pool of nominees, Pursley’s recognition comes from the board’s Organization Group Oversight Committee (OGOC), which oversees MRO’s Volunteer Recognition Program. “Pursley has had a hall of fame career supporting reliability and exemplifies the HERO attributes this award aims to honor,” said OGOC Chair JoAnn Thompson. “Please join us in congratulating Dick on this significant achievement.”

Dick Pursley was honored with a certificate and award during MRO’s Annual Member and Board Meeting on November 7, 2024.