Southern Energy Inc., a unit of Southern Company, has named Andrew J. Dearman III to the newly created post of senior vice president and chief technical officer, directing the company’s construction, environmental, operations and maintenance technical support and safety.

“This new position reflects the rapid growth of Southern Energy’s portfolio of power generation projects and other assets across the United States and around the world,” Southern Energy President and CEO Marce Fuller said in announcing the assignments.

Dearman, 46, currently serves as vice president for power generation and delivery at Southern Company’s Mississippi Power subsidiary. He also has served as a division vice president, division manager and in a number of engineering and customer-service management positions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Military Institute and a master’s degree in business administration from Samford University.

As chief of technical operations and a member of Southern Energy’s senior management team, Dearman will have a key role in “strategy, business operations and assessment of business opportunities,” Fuller said. “Andy Dearman’s broad background in Southern Company’s power generation organization will help ensure that Southern Energy’s facilities operate in a way that sets the standard for our industry.”

Southern Energy Inc. develops, builds, owns and operates power production and delivery facilities and provides a broad range of services to utilities and industrial companies around the world. Southern Energy supplies energy in 10 countries on four continents. Its Southern Company Energy Marketing unit provides energy trading, marketing and financial services and other energy-related commodities, products and services to customers in North America.

Southern Company (NYSE: SO), the largest producer of electricity in the United States, is also the parent firm of Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power and Savannah Electric.