Robert B. McGehee is chairman and chief executive officer of Progress Energy. He became chief executive officer on March 1, 2004, and chairman on May 12, 2004. McGehee was president and chief operating officer from October 2002 to March 2004. Prior to this, he was president and chief executive officer of the Progress Energy Service Company and executive vice president, general counsel of Progress Energy (formerly CP&L). He had also served as chief administrative officer - Administrative Services & Corporate Relations Group of Carolina Power & Light Company (CP&L). McGehee joined CP&L May 20, 1997, as senior vice president and general counsel. Prior to joining Progress Energy, McGehee was chairman of the board of Wise Carter Child & Caraway, a law firm in Jackson, Miss. In that role, he provided legal work for Entergy Corporation, CP&L and the former Houston Lighting & Power Co., among a number of other utility clients. During the 1990s, he also provided significant counsel to U.S. companies on reorganizations, business growth initiatives, preparing for deregulation, and other industry changes. McGehee earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., in 1966 and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1973. McGehee is also a graduate of the Nuclear Power School and Submarine School. McGehee is vice chairman of the Atomic Energy Committee of the Public Utility and the Communications and Transportation Law Section of the American Bar Association. He serves on the board of directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Institute of Nuclear Power Operators, the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), Atlanta Center, Nuclear Energy Institute and the Edison Electric Institute. He is also a member of the Florida Council of 100.