Jim Charters:
Jim Charters has a Bachelors degree from Arizona State University in Mathematics, a Masters of Science
Degree in Management from University of Arkansas, and graduate hours from University of Southern Mississippi
in Telecommunications Management. In addition he has significant training in telecommunications electronics
from multiple Air Force courses and university classes taken along the way.
He spent almost 12 years in the Air Force as an electronic systems officer. He left the Air Force during
the post Vietnam drawdown and took a management position with Kentron International processing flight test
data on the air launched cruise missile fly-off at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Western Area Power
Administration (Western) offered him a position as Communications Director in November of 1980.
While with Western, Jim was Communications Director, Communications and Protection Director, Director of
Engineering Support, Deregulation Project Manager, and Planning Manager. In these capacities he has
designed and directed installation and maintenance of microwave, fiber optics systems, telephone, radio,
relaying and metering systems.
Jim retired from Western at the end of April 2004 with 37 years of credited federal service and 23 years
with Western Area Power Administration. He is now in process of establishing a consulting company to
provide energy solutions because he cannot stand to have every day a Saturday.
Steve R. Mendoza, P.E.
Executive Vice President and Chief Engineer, Western Wind Energy Corporation
Steve Mendoza has a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical Option) from Loyola University of
Los Angeles and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (Power) from the University of Southern
California.
Mr. Mendoza is a registered professional electrical engineer in Arizona, California and New Mexico. Mr.
Mendoza has over 40 years of Electrical Utility Experience including planning, design, construction,
operation and maintenance of EHV and high voltage power systems. Mr. Mendoza’s past employers include
LADWP, APS, R W Beck, USBR, WAPA, SRP and the APA. Mr. Mendoza has served as Manager of SRP’s Substation
Engineering Department, Director of SRP’s Electrical Engineering Department, the Executive Manager of
SRP’s Electric System Design and Construction Department and as the Chief Engineer of the Arizona Power
Authority.
Mr. Mendoza is currently a senior member of the IEEE Power Engineering Society and has served on the
City of Phoenix Fire Safety Advisory Committee, the Phoenix Blue Stake Executive Committee, the EPRI
Power Delivery Group Council and the WECC Board of Directors.
