After 5 years of invaluable service, the highly respected protection engineer leaves behind a stronger, more resilient electrical infrastructure.
When Dennis Heitmann joined Umatilla Electric Cooperative it was supposed to be a brief, part-time role. Instead, his part-time stint evolved into a 5-year journey of success in line with the growth of the electric cooperative. A highly respected protection engineer, Heitmann is now set to retire from the local cooperative.
He will end his career — one that saw him play a critical role in Umatilla Electric Cooperative's rapid expansion and technological advancements — in October. His proficiency in protection engineering proved to be instrumental in building a resilient electrical infrastructure for the cooperative as it experienced significant growth. Heitmann said he found his role to be rewarding one.
"I've enjoyed the people. I've enjoyed the challenges with working at a utility that's grown as fast as Umatilla Electric Cooperative has," Heitmann reflected on his time at the cooperative.
A Journey from Military to Microprocessors
Heitmann's route to Umatilla Electric Cooperative was anything but conventional. A self-described "military brat" born in Italy, he spent 24 years in the U.S. Air Force and served in several different locations throughout Europe and the U.S. After his military career ended, Heitman sought a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Idaho.
He graduated from North Idaho College with an electrical engineering degree in 2006. Before joining Umatilla Electric Cooperative, Heitmann was a consultant for Relay Application Innovation, mostly working in the firm’s wind farm industry. His first brush with the cooperative came when he worked to support it on a few large load substation infrastructure projects.
Heitmann's recruitment to Umatilla Electric Cooperative was unexpected. During a meeting with UEC leadership, Heitmann was asked about his plans. The session soon led to a chat about a series of employment options and Heitmann ended up joining the cooperative as a part-time employee. His role, though, soon expanded.
"It was intended initially just for like 1 or 2 years, but I didn't expect to see that amount of growth at UEC," Heitmann said. "I'm not sure who was in the know to envision all the buildup. So, 1 year turned into essentially 5 years."
The Art of Protection Engineering
As a protection engineer, Heitmann focused his attention on protective devices within the electric system, such as fuses, circuit breakers, and relays. "On any electrical device in a substation or a transmission line, all these devices are protected," Heitmann said. His job included framing and testing the relays that direct the breakers — guaranteeing the cooperative’s broader electrical foundation remained safe and efficient. His work makes a direct impact on Umatilla Electric Cooperative's member-owners.
"What that means to the membership is that outages will be smaller, outages will be quicker to restore,” Ryan Young, superintendent of engineering at the cooperative, said. “We should not have major equipment damage during an outage that would cause outage lead times to lengthen out to days instead of hours."
A Legacy of Knowledge and Mentorship
Heitmann is well respected by his colleagues. They emphasized the expertise he delivered to his team and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of engineers.
"He spends a lot of time meticulously developing young or upcoming engineers,” Cole Bode, manager of engineering at Umatilla Electric Cooperative and Heitmann's direct supervisor since 2020, said. “He has a lot of knowledge to share, but instead of tucking that down and being the smartest person in the room all the time, he takes time out of his day to develop those around him and make them more knowledgeable."
Young praised Heitmann's ability to clarify complex concepts while working to find solutions. Young also praised Heitmann’s ability to often make complex issues accessible without creating an atmosphere where others might feel inadequate.
"Dennis has a unique talent for breaking down intricate ideas," he said. "Whenever I've had technical questions that have been off beyond my expertise, I know I can rely on Dennis to bring me up to speed on it in a way that makes me feel like I'm not stupid. He has a way about him of humbly explaining that just because you don't know something doesn't mean that you're an idiot or you're a lesser person."
Looking to the Future
As retirement beckons, Heitmann will leave behind a legacy of technical know-how, dedication, and success. He said he has not crafted any grand blueprint for his retirement. He said he is open to offering advice to his former colleagues if they seek it.
While Heitmann’s retirement signals the departure of a valued and skilled member of the Umatilla Electric Cooperative, his influence will be felt far into the future.
Heitmann’s tour from military service to safeguarding the engineering infrastructure of the cooperative serves as proof a diverse trek can ignite a rewarding career in the utility industry.
"He'll certainly be missed," Bode acknowledges. "But what he leaves behind is the education and knowledge that he shared with our team just to kind of keep us going. So, we appreciate everything he's done for us, especially that knowledge shared with the younger guys."
Young said he admires Heitmann’s extensive knowledge in protection engineering. He said it would be a challenge to replace someone of Heitmann’s expertise.
"Dennis has forgotten more about protection philosophy and doing different things like that than I'll ever learn in my lifetime," Young remarks. "His brain is a powerhouse, and he's got so much experience in it that he's left some big shoes to fill."
Jakob Stoll, an engineer who has studied under Heitmann, will be 1 of those individuals who will try to fill his shoes. Stoll, who joined the cooperative in April 2024, has been working closely with Heitmann to absorb as much of his expertise as he can in the time remaining.
“I’m taking over a good chunk of his protection duties, his technical roles he had. I’m trying to fill in as best I can. Big shoes being left,” he said. “He’s helped immensely to get me ready in a short time to fill his role.”
As Umatilla Electric Cooperative continues to grow into the future, the firm will miss Heitmann’s skills and camaraderie. The foundation he has built, however, will serve as a stable foundation for future innovations in electrical protection engineering.
"He's definitely 1 of the most genuine people you would ever meet. He's honest,” Bode said. “You never have to think or wonder what he's thinking. He'll tell you what he thinks. He's honest with you, kind, never really gets agitated, or is difficult to work with. He's just a great person all around."
Reflecting on Heitmann's overall impact and the void his departure will create, Young offered a heartfelt but succinct assessment of his colleague.
"Outstanding individual,” he said. “He's gonna be sorely missed."