html{display:none} Merlo | Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Dr. James Merlo

Vice President of Reliability Risk Management, North American Electric Reliability Corporation

James Merlo is a Vice President at NERC, leading the Reliability Risk Management department. Joining NERC in July 2011, James leads the electric reliability organization’s efforts to assess the industry status and needs with regard to events and occurrences on the Bulk Electric System and explores human performance challenges affecting bulk power system reliability. In this role, he identifies opportunities and methods for improvement based on proven methods from other industries and within the electrical industry to improve the reliability of the bulk power system. Additionally, he is responsible for ensuring that reliability-based industry alerts, lessons learned, best practices, and other valuable industry publications are quickly identified and communicated to the industry stakeholders and other various audiences.  

James served in a variety of leadership roles in the United States Army, including combat tours in Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Significant positions include: Deputy Brigade Commander in Baghdad, Iraq (2004–2005) and as an assistant professor and program director at the United States Military Academy.

James has his Bachelor of Science in Human Factors Psychology from West Point, his Masters in Engineering Psychology from the University of Illinois, and his Ph.D. in Applied Experimental and Human Factors Psychology from the University of Central Florida. He is the author of over 50 publications and book chapters on the subjects of human factors engineering and human performance.