MELDA HICKMAN
Kennesaw,GA
Summary
Executive leader with 25+ years directing mission-critical infrastructure operations, high-voltage power distribution, and multidisciplinary technical teams across transit, energy, and public-agency environments. Proven record managing multi-million-dollar operating and capital budgets, administering vendor and partner contracts, and driving 24/7 uptime performance for systems that directly support public safety and service continuity. Skilled in incident and emergency response leadership, regulatory and safety compliance across multiple jurisdictions, and cross-functional collaboration with executive leadership, government authorities, and external partners. Experienced managing teams of 80+ employees and translating complex critical-environment operations into clear, actionable reporting for senior stakeholders and boards.
Overview
1
1
Certification
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Systems Engineering
Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)
06.2022 - Current
- Direct system-wide, mission-critical infrastructure programs spanning power distribution, energy management, SCADA, and communications networks across bus, mobility, and rail operations — ensuring uptime, safety, and service continuity for a large-scale public transit system.
- Own contract administration and program management through design, manufacturing, installation, and testing phases, coordinating with legal, finance, procurement, and engineering stakeholders — directly comparable to managing IT/CE vendor and partner relationships.
- Provide technical oversight of General Engineering Consultants and specialized engineering firms delivering critical infrastructure projects.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations; proactively recommend improvements based on evolving industry codes and standards.
- Present technical and financial recommendations directly to the Executive Management Team and Board of Directors.
- Lead configuration management planning for life-safety and security systems, and coordinate interface requirements across multiple business units.
- Lead implementation of Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC), driving technical leadership and infrastructure planning for capacity growth.
Superintendent of Power Distribution
King County Metro
11.2017 - 06.2022
- Led an 80-person critical infrastructure team responsible for electrical equipment maintenance, high-voltage systems, and the power distribution network supporting continuous transit operations — direct experience running mission-critical operations at scale.
- Administered a multi-million-dollar operations and maintenance budget; authorized expenditures and maintained spend within approved forecasts, exceeding the $5M+ financial management bar.
- Managed vendor service contracts, supply agreements, and construction contracts for power systems, including negotiation and ongoing partner relationship oversight.
- Directed work planning, scheduling, and quality control for all maintenance and repair operations supporting 24/7 service reliability.
- Developed and implemented emergency response plans and safety programs, establishing operating policies to meet safety and quality standards across multiple regulatory jurisdictions.
- Ensured compliance with NFPA 70E, WAC, NESC, DOSH, WISHA, and NEC standards; represented Power & Facilities in internal and external work groups and task forces.
- Analyzed and reported maintenance trends, costs, and performance metrics to senior management, using data from automated asset and maintenance management systems to drive continuous improvement.
Rail Traction Power Chief
King County Metro
03.2014 - 11.2017
- Managed traction power inspection and maintenance programs for light rail operations, ensuring safe, continuous power delivery for a mission-critical transit system.
- Served as high-voltage subject matter expert, advising other departments on safety and operational matters.
- Developed and managed the operating budget for traction power infrastructure and administered contracts for maintenance and service providers.
- Consulted with engineering, safety, environmental, and operations teams to align maintenance programs with organizational goals.
Administrative Electrical Crew Chief
Port of Seattle
03.2006 - 03.2014
- Managed a 6- to 15-person electrical crew, developing annual budgets, safety programs, and preventive maintenance systems for port facility electrical infrastructure.
- Built and implemented electrical preventive maintenance programs and job plans and served as primary point of contact for electrical standards, codes, and safety practices.
- Conducted high-voltage, lockout/tagout, and confined-space training programs; obtained electrical permits and led documented site audits.
Electrical Crew Chief
Electrical Crew Chief
06.2002 - 03.2006
- Supervised installation, maintenance, and repair of medium- and high-voltage power systems (5 KV–13.8 KV), including feeders, transformers, and load interrupter switches.
- Coordinated shutdowns and lockout/tagout procedures, provided cost estimates, and used infrared thermography for predictive equipment inspection.
Education
Certified Industrial Safety Inspector -
AVO Training Institute
01-2013
Health and Safety Technician Certificate - undefined
Evergreen Safety Council
01-2011
Safety and Health Specialist Certification - undefined
Evergreen Safety Council
01-2011
Electrical Apprenticeship Program - undefined
South Seattle Community College
01-1992
Industrial Electricity Certificate - undefined
Chattanooga State Community College
01-1988
Skills
- Critical Environment (CE) Infrastructure Operations & Uptime Management
- Mission-Critical Service Delivery & SLA-Driven Operations
- Multi-Million Dollar Budget Development, Forecasting & Financial Management
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership & Staff Development (80 Employees)
- Vendor, Landlord & Partner Contract Negotiation and Administration
- Safety, Security, Regulatory Compliance & Stakeholder Engagement
- Incident Management, Emergency Response & Post-Incident Review
- High-Voltage Power Systems, SCADA Integration & Automation
- Asset Management, Reliability Engineering & Preventive Maintenance
- Strategic Planning, Process Improvement & Change Management
- Asset Management Systems: EAM, Asset Works, Maximo
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); Bluebeam; Oracle Primavera Unifier
- Power Distribution Analysis Tools
- Training and mentoring
- Technical leadership
- Continuous improvement
- Project management
- Cost estimates
- Teamwork
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Time management
Affiliations
- IBEW Local 46 — Inside Wireman & Foreman, Sep 1992 – Feb 2015 (22+ years): Journey-level electrician maintaining active dispatch status across multiple signatory construction companies concurrent with progressive supervisory roles.
- EL01 Journey-Level Electrical License — active through February 2015.
Certification
- NTT High Voltage Training; NTT Troubleshooting Electrical and Control Circuits
- ITC Level 1 & 2 Infrared Thermography Training and Certification
- AVO Substation Maintenance I & II; AVO Certified Industrial Electrical Safety Inspector
- OSHA 10 & 30 Construction Certification; 24-Hour Hazardous Material Training
- NIMS 100, 200, 700
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & LEADERSHIP TRAINING
- Project Management Professional (PMI-PMP) Training Program
- Women Development Program, Class of 2023
- King County Metro LEAD Program & King County Leadership Academy
- Prosci — Leading Your Team Through Change
- Frontline Supervision Training; Safety Leadership/Safety Sciences
- Communicating Successfully; Speak with Authority
- Fire Safety/Emergency Planning, Protection and Response
Timeline
Director of Systems Engineering
Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)
06.2022 - Current
Superintendent of Power Distribution
King County Metro
11.2017 - 06.2022
Rail Traction Power Chief
King County Metro
03.2014 - 11.2017
Administrative Electrical Crew Chief
Port of Seattle
03.2006 - 03.2014
Electrical Crew Chief
Electrical Crew Chief
06.2002 - 03.2006
Industrial Electricity Certificate - undefined
Chattanooga State Community College
Electrical Apprenticeship Program - undefined
South Seattle Community College
Safety and Health Specialist Certification - undefined
Evergreen Safety Council
Health and Safety Technician Certificate - undefined
Evergreen Safety Council
Certified Industrial Safety Inspector -
AVO Training Institute