Distinguished Engineer
Hometown: Jefferson
Mechanical Engineering,
Russell E. Christiansen joined Iowa Public Services Co. in 1959 following his graduation from South Dakota State College. He graduated from the Executive Management Course of the Edison Electric Institute in 1971. Christiansen held several managerial and executive positions at Iowa Public Service Co. including systems production manager, vice president-production, vice-president-transmission and distribution, vice-president and senior vice president-consumer services. He became chairman of Midwest Energy and IPS in 1986 and served as the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Midwest Energy Co. (later renamed to MidAmerican Energy Co.) and Iowa Public Services Co., its principle subsidiary, in Sioux City, Iowa. Throughout his career, Christiansen was involved in the executive management of utility ventures and was a leader in the energy industry and in the economic development of southeast South Dakota. His daughter Lori earned a B.S. degree in biology from SDSU in 1979.