Executive Vice President/COO
Josh Lankford serves as UEC’s Assistant General Manager. In this position, Josh works closely with Robert Echenrode, General Manager/CEO, focusing on the development and execution of UEC’s ongoing utility operations, mission, and long-term strategy. He will also serve as the primary liaison between the membership, management, and the General Manager.
Josh’s leadership and technical expertise have been a critical piece of UEC’s success for over 15 years. Josh joined the cooperative in 2009 as a Distribution Engineer. Since then, he has risen through various leadership positions, serving as Engineering Manager in 2016 and promoted to Vice President of Engineering and Operations in 2020. In addition to Josh’s industry skill set, he has completed extensive education supporting his position. Josh holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Portland State University and a Masters in Transmission and Distribution Engineering from Gonzaga University. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer in Oregon and holds his Oregon General Contractors License.
Josh has also been heavily involved in programs and committees through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), UEC’s national industry trade organization. He served six years on the Transmission and Distribution Engineering Committee, a national committee ensuring safety regulations are up to date and followed in engineering design. Josh also completed NRECA’s Management Internship Program in 2016 and most recently completed the Cooperative Finance Professional Certification in 2024.
“Over the past 15 years, I’ve enjoyed working amongst our great team and look forward to continuing to support our membership and our communities in this new position,” says Lankford. “Together, we’ve built a strong foundation of service and operational excellence. I look forward to the continued growth of our area and solving the challenges of tomorrow.”