Commissioner Anthony J. O’Donnell

Anthony J. O’Donnell was first appointed to the Maryland Public Service Commission in August 2016 and reappointed in 2021. Prior to his appointment, he served in the Maryland House of Delegates since January 1995. He represented Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties, and was the longest serving member of the House of Delegates representing Calvert in that county’s entire history. Delegate O’Donnell served in a variety of leadership roles in the Maryland House including senior minority member of the Environment and Transportation Committee (2015-16), House Minority Whip (2003-06), and House Minority Leader (2006-13).

During his 22 annual sessions in the General Assembly, Delegate O’Donnell worked and served on a broad array of public policy issues. His work included a focus on agriculture, civil and criminal law, energy, environment, ethics, land use and real property, natural resources, state government and budget appropriations, and matters related to transportation. He served as a member of the standing policy committees of Judiciary, Appropriations, and Environment and Transportation. He also served on the more ministerial related committees of the House including the Legislative Policy Committee, the Spending Affordability Committee, and the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee.

During his time in the legislature, Delegate O’Donnell became a widely recognized legislative champion of efforts to restore oysters to Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. He was formally appointed to both the statutorily-created Maryland Aquaculture Coordinating Council (2006-16) as well as the Oyster Advisory Commission (2007-16). He received the lifetime achievement recognition award from his peers on the Maryland Aquaculture Coordinating Council in 2014 for his long time efforts in oyster policy.

Commissioner O’Donnell worked for 15 years at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby, Maryland. He served in various capacities supporting safe and reliable electrical power generation including as a Nuclear Instrumentation and Controls Technician, as a Nuclear Maintenance Supervisor, as a Nuclear Maintenance Engineering Analyst, and as the Director – Emergency Preparedness. He was certified by the Institute of Nuclear Power Operators (INPO) as both a nuclear qualified maintenance control technician and first line supervisor.

Prior to working at Calvert Cliffs, Commissioner O’Donnell served for over eight years in the United States Navy. Enlisted in 1979, he completed basic training and electronics technician school in his first year. He then completed Nuclear Propulsion School and went on to successfully complete hands-on training and qualifications at the nuclear training facility operated by the GE-Knowles Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL). Following this two year training period, he reported to assignment onboard U.S.S. South Carolina (CGN-37), where he was a technician, a reactor plant operator, and a supervisor. His shipboard service included deployment and cruises to the Mediterranean, a North Atlantic cruise, a South American cruise, and other local Atlantic and Caribbean operations. After his sea tour, O’Donnell was assigned as an instructor at KAPL where he completed his military service. While still on active military duty, Commissioner O’Donnell earned a B.S. degree (1985) from the University of the State of New York, Regents College (now known as Excelsior).

He serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Nuclear Issues–Waste Disposal and as a member of the Committee on Electricity for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). In 2021, Commissioner O’Donnell was elected President of the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (MACRUC). Commissioner O’Donnell lives in Lusby, Maryland. He and his wife have three grown children and seven grandchildren.

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