NPCC Appoints New Board Members to Strengthen Grid Reliability
The Northeast Power Coordinating Council, Inc. (NPCC) has announced the appointment of three highly accomplished leaders to its Board of Directors, a move that underscores the organization’s continued focus on strengthening the reliability, security, and resilience of the Bulk Power System serving Northeastern North America. The newly appointed board members—Wendy K. Thomas, Carol Martucci, and Deidre Altobell—bring decades of cross-sector experience spanning cybersecurity, energy markets, transmission planning, financial management, and regulatory engagement.
In announcing the appointments, Charles Dickerson, NPCC President and Chief Executive Officer, emphasized the strategic importance of the new additions. “The addition of Wendy Thomas, Carol Martucci, and Deidre Altobell to the NPCC Board of Directors reflects our ongoing commitment to strong leadership and collaboration to support our vision of a highly reliable and secure Bulk Power System across Northeastern North America,” Dickerson said. “Their deep industry knowledge and contributions will strengthen NPCC’s capacity to address evolving challenges and effectively reduce risks to critical energy infrastructure in the region.”
Wendy K. Thomas: A Visionary in Cybersecurity and Technology Leadership
Wendy K. Thomas brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across cybersecurity, telecommunications, and financial technology. A recognized innovator and strategic operator, Thomas most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer of Secureworks, where she led the company through a major transformation of its business model. During her tenure, she oversaw the evolution of Secureworks from a traditional services provider into a cutting-edge, artificial intelligence-driven cybersecurity platform, positioning the company for long-term growth and market differentiation. This transformation ultimately culminated in Secureworks being acquired by Sophos, one of the world’s leading cybersecurity firms.
Thomas is widely respected for her thought leadership and is a frequent panelist at global cybersecurity events, where she shares insights on emerging digital threats, AI-enabled security solutions, and the rapidly shifting technology landscape. Her governance experience is equally substantial. She has served on the board of Marqeta, a major fintech company, and held leadership roles on the boards of the Technology Association of Georgia, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and the Woodruff Arts Center. These roles further demonstrate her ability to guide organizations through complex, technology-driven environments.
Thomas holds an international master’s degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina and a dual bachelor’s degree in economics and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia. Her term on the NPCC Board will begin in January 2026, adding expertise that will be especially vital as the energy sector faces heightened cybersecurity threats and digital transformation challenges.
Carol Martucci: Enhancing Operational Insight, Transparency, and Reliability
With extensive experience in energy markets, technology integration, and financial reporting, Carol Martucci serves as the Director of Financial Reporting and Corporate Technology at the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC). In this role, she leads strategic initiatives that enhance reporting accuracy, real-time data availability, and process automation for municipal light departments throughout Massachusetts. Her work helps municipal utilities respond to evolving customer needs, navigate increasingly complex energy markets, and implement technologies that support both operational reliability and economic efficiency.
Martucci plays a key role in advancing MMWEC’s mission to support affordable and reliable electricity for municipal ratepayers. She has been instrumental in broadening the organization’s service offerings and in developing mission-driven programs that link people, processes, and innovation. Her ability to bridge technical and financial domains allows her to guide projects that improve fiscal transparency, strengthen enterprise risk management, optimize financial planning, and maximize value through effective market participation.
She also partners with senior leadership to oversee a diverse portfolio of power resources in the New England market, including bi-lateral power purchase agreements, market-based procurement, and direct ownership of a broad mix of generation technologies—spanning fossil fuel, nuclear, hydroelectric, solar, energy storage, and wind resources. Her understanding of both the operational and financial dimensions of power supply will provide NPCC with valuable insights into regional market dynamics and long-term planning needs.
Prior to joining MMWEC, Martucci built a strong foundation in public accounting through roles at several certified public accounting firms, including PricewaterhouseCoopers. Her 16 years of experience at MMWEC, combined with her accounting expertise, position her to contribute meaningfully to NPCC’s governance, particularly in areas involving financial oversight, risk strategy, and market operations.
Deidre Altobell: A Leader in Transmission Planning and Regulatory Policy
Deidre Altobell adds more than 35 years of deep operational and regulatory experience to the NPCC Board. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the New York State Reliability Council (NYSRC), where she contributes to key policy and standards discussions that shape reliability requirements for one of the nation’s most complex electricity systems. Her strategic influence spans core areas including electricity supply management, long-term resource planning, transmission system development, and stakeholder engagement.
Altobell’s career includes significant contributions to regulatory policy and electricity market design, ensuring that evolving market structures remain compatible with bulk electric system reliability. Her leadership in the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) has been particularly notable. She has held multiple leadership roles within NYISO stakeholder groups, including serving as Chairperson of the NYISO Management Committee, one of the most influential governance bodies in the region’s electricity market structure.
In her current professional role, Altobell is the Chief Engineer of Transmission Planning at Consolidated Edison of New York. She leads a team responsible for designing the transmission infrastructure required to support New York City’s transition to a clean energy future. Her responsibilities include conducting transmission security studies, planning infrastructure solutions, overseeing generation and transmission interconnections, and ensuring compliance with reliability standards issued by NERC, NPCC, and NYSRC. Through this work, she plays a direct role in shaping the long-term grid strategy for one of the most energy-intensive metropolitan areas in the world.
Altobell holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Columbia University. Her extensive knowledge of grid operations, policy, and regulatory compliance will significantly strengthen NPCC’s ability to fulfill its mission amid evolving industry trends, including electrification, decarbonization, and increasing system complexity.
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