Mississippi Power engineers reflect on national day of recognition

“It brings you to a whole new level of credibility, especially with customers,” said Chris Litton, Pascagoula substation supervisor and 25-year veteran with the company. “It takes your professionalism to a much higher level.”

“PE” stands for Professional Engineer, and those who have earned that license are being recognized today as part of National Professional Engineers Day.

For Litton, getting a PE license was as much about the influence he gained from his supervisors as it was about the drive to earn the title.

“I started with the company as a co-op and my manager and two others above me had their PEs,” Litton said. “As a young engineer, I respected all of my supervisors and their integrity. When I earned my PE, it was on my business cards. After I received it, I attended a meeting off-site and several colleagues congratulated me because they saw it on my business cards. That let me know it was significant.”

It’s also huge for Engineering Supervisor Brooks Glisson, who’s been an engineer for five years and got his PE recently.

“Not only did I realize that it would add more to my resume, but it also brings with it a greater sense of respectability with those inside and outside the company,” Glisson said.

To become a PE, an engineer must earn a four-year college degree, work under a Professional Engineer for at least four years, then pass two grueling eight-hour competency exams and earn a license from the state’s licensing board.

Much like other professions, PEs must annually maintain and improve their skills through professional development to keep their license.

Right now, Samantha Ball is beginning the process of earning her PE. The distribution engineer based at the company’s Operations Center has reached the four-year threshold in her career.

“This is the next step for me,” Ball said. “I want to achieve that credibility.”