James is the recipient of the 2018 Southwest American Power Dispatchers Association (SWAPDA) Scholarship. He is a native of California who attended the Los Angeles Technical Trade College and the College of Canyons and landed a job with the City of Bu
rbank as a Pipefitter Apprentice from 2010-2014. In this position he assisted in cutting, filling, laying, repairing, cleaning and flushing mains while performing allied construction and maintenance in the installation, maintenance, repair or replacement of water systems and also assisted with in repairs and services.
In 2014 until 2015 he became a Journeyman Pipefitter with the City of Burbank where he installed, replaced, and repaired water main, services, meters, valves, hydrants, and associated water distribution equipment while performing excavation, shoring, cribbing, and soil compaction work and responded to consumer inquiries and problems in the field while training and directing a crew of workers as required. In 2015 he moved into a position of greater responsibility as an Electrician Apprentice where he is responsive for erecting steel racks, cutting and shaping bus and pipe, digging ditches, laying tile and fiber duct, pouring concrete, and installing and maintaining electrical equipment, major electrical appliances, electric meters, communications equipment, PLC’s and other fiber optic cables and data network systems.
In May 2018, James was enrolled into the IncSys Academy and he completed all of the Power System Operations Courses (PSOC) in June 2019, and then was enrolled into the NERC Preparation course and passed the NERC Reliability Coordinator Certification exam in July 2019.
We want to congratulate James Rowland for receiving the SWAPDA 2018 Scholarship, and also congratulate him for passing the NERC Certification exam. We are proud of your success and allowing our scholarship to help shape your future goals and objectives in the utility industry.
“Words from James”
I am very grateful for the opportunities that have presented themselves through the American Power Dispatchers Association Scholarship. When I started my career at Burbank Water and Power, I had no idea what a Power System Operator was or did. My interest peaked while working in the substations as an Electrician apprentice and the IncSys Academy was the perfect tool for me to learn everything I could about being a System Operator and pass the NERC RC exam. The quizzes and practice exams tremendously helped me in passing the NERC RC exam, and the simulator exercises were a lot of fun and helped me understand the lessons in real world applications. Thank You, IncSys and South West Association of Power Dispatchers! I’m excited to start applying for PSO positions so I can start putting my new knowledge to use.