Charles Patton is executive vice president, External Affairs for AEP. In this role, he leads AEP’s customer services, communications, regulatory, federal public policy and corporate sustainability organizations. Prior to his current responsibilities, Patton served in numerous executive positions throughout his tenure with AEP. He has been the president and chief operating officer of two AEP subsidiaries: Appalachian Power, serving approximately one million customers in West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee; and AEP Texas, serving over one million in South and West Texas. He is a graduate of Bowdoin College, located in Brunswick, Maine, and holds a graduate degree from The University of Texas LBJ School of Public Policy.