Spearman named UAH Outstanding Young Alum

HUNTSVILLE – Kristin Spencer Spearman has been named the 2022 Outstanding Young Alumni of Achievement at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She received her bachelor’s in engineering in 2006.

Spearman is vice president of Transmission Planning & Projects for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Chattanooga. In this role she leads a group responsible for project planning and execution for one of the largest transmission systems in North America.

With much of her time spent in conference rooms and virtual meetings, Spearman said she enjoys working in the field.

“My team is involved in all aspects of planning and constructing the equipment that is used to deliver reliable power to our customers,” Spearman said. “I like to be out in the field seeing the plans become a reality and supporting the people that are making that happen.

“Otherwise, I find myself in way too many meetings,” she said with a laugh.

Spearman has been with TVA since 2012 and has held engineering and leadership positions, including design engineering, construction management and strategic planning. Prior to TVA, she was a mechanical engineer for the Army on Redstone Arsenal.

“That was a great experience,” she said. “My group performed research and development with advanced composite materials. We did a lot of prototyping and lab work to design and build lightweight missile and aviation components.

“Being a young engineer and getting to be involved in every aspect in the process, from figuring out how things may work all the way to getting your hands dirty and building it yourself, is a rare and invaluable experience.”

Spearman cited her father as the most influential figure in her career.

“He always taught me that hard work pays off and encouraged me to ‘just be yourself,’ advice that I think is incredibly important and that I now share with my kids regularly,” she said. “I would say engineering was something I always knew I wanted to do. My dad’s an engineer, plus I was always good at math and science which tend to point you in that direction.

“I never specifically set out to work for TVA; although ironically, I’m a third-generation employee here. My dad and his dad worked for TVA, as well. My husband works at TVA, too. TVA is clearly a big part of my life.”

Asked where she sees herself in the future, Spearman’s thoughts immediately jump to the
future of her industry.

“Career wise, I’d like to stay in the power industry,” she said. “It is very dynamic right now and in the middle of a huge transition. As we move away from more carbon-based resources like coal plants and more towards renewable resources like solar, the transmission grid must be modernized to keep up. While our industry had been stagnant for several decades, now we are evolving very rapidly, and so it is exciting to be part of that.”

Spearman said her favorite memory of her university days “was largely associated with playing softball at UAH. I have so many memories of being a student athlete, it is hard to pick just one, but winning the Gulf South Conference championship as a senior is certainly a special memory.

“During my time at UAH I met lifelong friends in my coaches and teammates who I still continue to make memories with today.”

When asked to share one piece of advice with a current UAH student, Spearman said, “Choosing just one piece is hard! Enjoy every moment – those years go by quickly – and learn as much out of the classroom as in it.”