BRIDGMAN, Mich., March 1, 1999 -- A. Christopher Bakken III has been named site vice president for American Electric Power's (NYSE: AEP) Cook Nuclear Plant, according to Robert Powers, senior vice president – nuclear generation. Bakken, 37, is currently general manager Salem operations at Public Service Electric & Gas Company's Salem Nuclear Generating Station in Hancock's Bridge, N.J. He will succeed John Sampson, who has been named Indiana/Michigan president for AEP. "Chris has experience in both restart and plant operations which will allow him to have an immediate positive impact, as well as contribute to the long-term success of the organization," said Powers. Bakken joined PSE&G in 1995 as manager Salem operations and was promoted to general manager in 1997. Prior to that, he was a nuclear shift supervisor, nuclear station operations foreman, and test engineer for Duquesne Light Company's Beaver Valley Station in Shippingport, Pa. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Grove City College in Grove City, Pa., and a Master of Science degree in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He held a senior reactor operator license at Beaver Valley. AEP, a global energy company, is one of the United States' largest investor-owned utilities, providing energy to 3 million customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. AEP has holdings in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia. Wholly owned subsidiaries provide power engineering, energy consulting and energy management services around the world. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio. On Dec. 22, 1997, AEP announced a definitive merger agreement for a tax-free, stock-for-stock transaction with Central and South West Corp., a public utility holding company based in Dallas.