COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1999 -- Dr. James J. Markowsky, American Electric Power’s (NYSE:AEP) executive vice president - power generation, announced he will retire after 28 years with the company. His retirement is effective Feb. 1. “It is something I’ve been considering for some time,” Markowsky said. “In my remaining time with AEP, I look forward to assisting the new organization in its transition. After taking a few months off, I expect to move on to what hopefully will be an exciting new phase of my career.” “Jim’s experience and technical expertise have been major factors in AEP’s emergence as one of the most respected power generation organizations in the country,” said E. Linn Draper, AEP’s chairman, president and CEO. Markowsky, 54, began his career with AEP in 1971 as a senior engineer in its mechanical engineering division. In 1977, he was appointed program manager for AEP’s pressurized fluidized bed combustion development program. He was appointed head of the mechanical engineering division and elected assistant vice president in 1984, vice president - mechanical engineering in 1987, senior vice president and chief engineer in 1988, executive vice president - engineering and construction in 1993 and executive vice president - power generation in 1996. In his current position, he is responsible for the fossil and hydro generating facilities, power generation engineering, affiliate coal mining, generation projects, environmental services, and financial planning and control services. Earlier this month, Markowsky’s contributions to engineering were recognized during formal ceremonies in Washington, D.C., where he was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Academy membership honors those who have achieved major accomplishments in the engineering field and in the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology. Markowsky holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Pratt Institute, a master's from Cornell University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a doctorate from Cornell University. He is also a licensed professional engineer in the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. He served as an adjunct associate professor at City College of New York during 1975-1977 and is the author of a number of publications in the power generation area. He is a member of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies’ Power Generation Committee, serving as chairman of the Committee; chairman of the Coal Utilization Research Council; chairman of the National Research Council's Committee on R&D Opportunities for Coal Fired Energy Complexes and Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers. AEP, a global energy company, is one of the United States' largest investor-owned utilities, providing energy to 3 million customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. AEP has holdings in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia. Wholly owned subsidiaries provide power engineering, energy consulting and energy management services around the world. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio. On Dec. 22, 1997, AEP announced a definitive merger agreement for a tax-free, stock-for-stock transaction with Central and South West Corp., a public utility holding company based in Dallas.