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Preston Gillespie serves as executive vice president, chief generation officer and enterprise operational excellence for Duke Energy. He is responsible for integrating and advancing the company’s nuclear, fossil, hydro and regulated renewable generation strategies to support Duke Energy’s target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Serving as senior vice president and chief generation officer since 2020, Gillespie was named executive vice president in 2023 and assumed expanded responsibilities, including enterprise operational excellence, environmental, health and safety and coal combustion products.

has more than 35 years of experience in the energy field. He has served as Duke Energy’s chief nuclear officer, where he was responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the nation’s largest regulated nuclear generating fleet. Other leadership roles across the company’s nuclear fleet include operations shift manager, operations manager, plant manager, site vice president and senior vice president of nuclear operations. In these roles, he directed station and facilities management, operations, maintenance, chemistry and radiation protection, engineering, nuclear and industrial safety, and business operations.

Gillespie joined Duke Power in 1986 as an assistant engineer at Oconee Nuclear Station, where he served in a variety of functions in engineering and operations.

A native of Charleston, S.C., Gillespie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Clemson University. He is a registered professional engineer in South Carolina and a graduate of Wharton’s Advanced Management Program. He held a senior reactor operator license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for Oconee Nuclear Station. Gillespie is also a past recipient of the company’s Robinson Award, which recognized employees for their outstanding contributions to the company’s operations.