Michael J. Pacilio is a seasoned executive who brings the full range of operational, technical, organizational, financial and public policy skills to his role. Pacilio continues to be a thought leader in the power generation industry. 

Pacilio led Exelon Corporation’s power generation fleet, the nation’s largest clean energy operator, consisting of nearly 100 generating units in 19 states and Canada. The fleet included the nation’s preeminent nuclear power operation as well as natural gas, hydro, wind and solar facilities. 

Professional History 

Over a nearly 40-year career, Pacilio held increasingly responsible positions in Exelon Nuclear, the nation’s largest nuclear fleet and in the top five worldwide. Exelon Nuclear earned and maintains a reputation as among the best worldwide. Under Pacilio’s leadership culture of excellence, Exelon Nuclear consistently achieved the industry’s highest reliability, low operating costs, and sound safety results.

Pacilio was a driver of the successful growth of Exelon Nuclear’s business and business model. Exelon Nuclear grew from ten units in 2000 to 21 today through a process of corporate mergers, savvy asset acquisitions, and operating services agreements. Pacilio oversaw the process of integrating these assets into a cohesive synergistic whole, optimizing capital programs and reducing operating expenses on a sustained basis while building and reinforcing investor confidence.  

He led the nuclear sector’s response to the Fukushima tsunami, resulting in a well-designed national emergency response capability. He drove new initiatives to develop an energy workforce for the future, with specific focus on under-served communities and populations. He helped develop national industry guidance on digital equipment and cyber security standards, and advised one of the world’s newest nuclear plants in the Arabian Gulf, on cyber security.  

Pacilio built stakeholder alliances for Exelon and for the power industry. He was a key and frequent spokesperson before state and federal executive, legislative and regulatory agencies on energy policy and regulatory strategies and issues, including energy market design, energy tax policy, and safety and security regulation. He built constructive partnerships to promote shared priorities with organized labor at the international level as well as with environmental organizations.  

He has experience in corporate governance and oversight, having served on the boards of the Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, a joint venture of Exelon and Electricite de France; Net Power, investing in alternativeenergy technology; and JExel, an international venture with Japan Atomic Power Company. He has served in leadership roles in industry organizations including the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, World Nuclear Association, and the Nuclear Energy Institute, where he served on the executive committee of the board.  He currently sits on the Board of Directors for Duke Energy and Railworks. 

Specific Experience

1982 – 2010 A variety of management positions at Exelon Nuclear, including construction/start-up engineer; maintenance director; operations director; plant manager; site vice president at Braidwood and Clinton Nuclear Plant; senior vice president, Midwest Nuclear Operations; and Chief Operating Officer, Exelon Nuclear  

2010 – 2015 President and Chief Nuclear Officer, Exelon Generation  

2015 – 2021 Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Exelon Generation  

2021 – present Board of Directors: Duke Energy

2022 – present Board of Directors: Railworks

Education 

Pacilio holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University, and a senior reactor operator certification. He completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.