Cody Thibodeaux
Buda
Summary
Field Construction Coordinator with over a decade of expertise in high-voltage electrical utility projects, specializing in substation construction and project coordination. Demonstrates exceptional leadership in managing utility construction, while ensuring compliance with OSHA and NFPA standards. Committed to enhancing safety and efficiency in utility operations, with a forward-looking approach to innovative solutions in the energy sector.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Field Construction Coordinator (Transmission & Substation Projects)
WSP
Austin, TX
03.2024 - Current
- Served as the primary field liaison between engineering, construction management, and contractors, ensuring work is completed safely, on schedule, and to design intent.
- Coordinate multiple substation and transmission projects including foundation, grounding grid, conduit, bus, breaker, and transformer installations.
- Oversee construction sequencing, scheduling, and resource allocation to minimize outages and maximize field efficiency.
- Managed daily interface with system operations, PICs, and grid controllers for switching, clearance, and energization planning.
- Conducted field audits verifying adherence to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269, NFPA 70E, and Utility Transmission Standards for electrical safety and work practices.
- Lead and participated in red-zone task reviews, and job hazard analyses; ensured all crews are trained and briefed on Minimum Approach Distances (MAD).
- Oversee SPCC and storm-water compliance—including oil containment setup, secondary protection, and BMP inspections.
- Approve and track field changes, red-line updates, and material substitutions, coordinate with engineering for design deviations and constructability issues.
- Manage heavy-haul logistics for large transformers, breakers, and control houses; coordinate TxDOT escorts, crane operations, and rigging activities.
- Prepare daily construction reports, field progress logs, and safety documentation for project management and turnover packages.
- Support commissioning and energization readiness, ensuring all documentation, testing, and inspections are complete prior to turnover.
Foreman / Journeyman Substation Technician
Dacon
Deer Park, TX
06.2018 - 03.2024
- Performed routine maintenance and repairs on electrical substations to ensure safe and efficient operations.
- Diagnosed and troubleshot electrical issues within substations. Identify and rectify problems to maintain the reliability of the electrical grid.
- Installed and commissioned new substation equipment and replaced existing equipment as needed. Including dressing out transformers, circuit breakers, relays, building, installing, adjusting switches and other essential components crucial to the safe operation of substations and electrical systems.
- Work with high voltage systems, cables, and equipment. Safely handled high voltage operations which require specialized training and protective gear.
- Followed strict safety protocols and procedures to protect myself and others from electrical hazards and other hazards commonly found throughout construction projects.
- Kept detailed records of maintenance and repairs conducted on substation equipment.
- Conducted tests on substation equipment to ensure proper functioning. Including insulation resistance tests, power factor tests, and other diagnostic assessments.
- Collaborated with supervisors to plan and schedule work and outages. Prioritized tasks, coordinated outages and held clearances necessary to minimize disruptions to electrical service.
- Provided guidance and mentorship to apprentices and journeyman technicians. Shared valuable knowledge and best practices to ensure safety and proficiency.
- Stayed up to date with industry regulations and standards to ensure that substation operations met requirements and industry best practices.
- Responded to electrical emergencies such as outages, equipment failure, and storm restoration to restore power and maintain electrical infrastructure integrity.
Journeyman Electrician / Journeyman Substation Technician
Ernest P. Breaux Electrical
New Iberia, LA
03.2016 - 06.2018
- Completed a four-year electrical utility apprenticeship including classroom and transmission/substation field training. Sept 2009 - Oct 2013.
- Installed and tested electrical and control wiring for substation control houses and commercial facilities.
- Built, installed, and adjusted high-voltage disconnect switches (69 kV–500 kV).
- Installed ground grids, conduit systems, and equipment foundations; performed high-voltage cable terminations and testing.
- Assembled substation components including CCVTs, CTs, PTs, breakers, reactors, and capacitor banks.
- Supported construction of transmission and distribution structures; operated cranes, excavators, skid loaders, and bucket trucks.
- Managed material procurement, logistics, and inventory for multiple job sites.
Electrician
LQT Industries
Abbeville, LA
10.2013 - 02.2016
- Installed, terminated, and tested electrical systems for offshore living quarters and motor control centers in accordance with NEC, ABS, and Coast Guard standards.
- Fabricated and routed conduct systems, cable trays, and wiring harnesses for power distribution, lighting, and control circuits on modular units for offshore platforms.
- Read and interpreted single-line diagrams, schematics, and cable schedules to verify proper phase rotation, load balancing, and circuit protection.
- Assisted in continuity, insulation resistance, and functional testing on all installed circuits prior to QA/QC turnover and customer walk-downs.
- Collaborated directly with engineering, QA/QC inspectors, and client representatives to correct punch-list items and ensure all installations met project specifications.
- Assisted with material take-offs, procurement tracking, and red-line markups during construction to support accurate as-built documentation.
- Operated overhead and mobile cranes for loading, staging, and final set-down of electrical modules and equipment skids in the fabrication yard.
- Maintained strict adherence to safety policies, lockout/tagout procedures, and hazard-recognition standards for energized work and heavy-lift operations.
Education
Electrical Apprenticeship -
Ernest P. Breaux Electrical
New Iberia, LA10-2013
High School Diploma - undefined
New Iberia Senior High
New Iberia, LA01-2009
Skills
- Field Construction
- Project Coordination
- High-Voltage Substation Construction
- OSHA Compliance
- Switching
- Outage Management
- Environmental Oversight
- Contractor Supervision
- Blueprint Interpretation
- Commissioning
- Leadership
- Safety Program Execution
- Risk Assessment
- Quality Control
- Labor management
- Documentation control
- Construction scheduling
Certification
OSHA 30
OSHA# 510 Construction Standards
CPR / First Aid
Timeline
Field Construction Coordinator (Transmission & Substation Projects)
WSP
03.2024 - Current
Foreman / Journeyman Substation Technician
Dacon
06.2018 - 03.2024
Journeyman Electrician / Journeyman Substation Technician
Ernest P. Breaux Electrical
03.2016 - 06.2018
Electrician
LQT Industries
10.2013 - 02.2016
High School Diploma - undefined
New Iberia Senior High
Electrical Apprenticeship -
Ernest P. Breaux Electrical