On November 5th the White House honored 12 local heroes as “Champions of Change.” Among those selected for the program were Drew Sloan ’02 and Kevin Johnson ’02 – American veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who are doing extraordinary work to advance clean energy
Drew Sloan, ‘02 serves as a sales executive with the energy efficiency and smart grid software company, Opower. In this role, Drew works with utilities to provide customers better insight into their energy usage, helping families make smarter, more efficient energy choices. Prior to joining Opower, Drew served as an Army officer, completing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He received the Purple Heart medal for wounds suffered during a Taliban ambush in 2004 as well as two Bronze Stars. Drew is co-author of the book, Let There Be Light: Electrifying the Developing World with Markets and Distributed Energy. Drew is a founding member of Operation Free, a nationwide coalition of veterans and national security experts who advocate for securing America with clean energy.and increase climate resilience and preparedness in their communities.
Kevin Johnson, ’02 is the Senior Manager of Mergers & Acquisitions and leads Federal Market Business Development for the Acciona Energy North America Corporation. Kevin manages Acciona’s federal market team, which works closely with the Department of Defense to achieve its goal of 25 percent renewable energy by 2025. Prior to joining Acciona, Kevin served as a Captain in the United States Army and was deployed to Iraq in 2004 with the 1st Battalion, 33rd Field Artillery Regiment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As an advocate for the Truman National Security Project and Operation Free, he continues to lead the charge for a more sustainable and secure energy future.
Upon returning home from service, many veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have continued to utilize their specialized skills and experiences to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy, make communities more resilient to the effects of climate change and improve our nation’s energy security.
The Champions of Change program was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature individuals, businesses, and organizations doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities.
To learn more about the Champions of Change program, clicke here.