COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 17, 1999 -- American Electric Power's (NYSE:AEP) Dr. James J. Markowsky was one of 88 engineers worldwide elected recently to membership in the National Academy of Engineering. The academy honors those who have made important contributions to engineering theory and practice, including significant contributions to the literature of engineering theory and practice, and those who have demonstrated unusual accomplishment in the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology. Markowsky, AEP's executive vice president - power generation, was recognized for his role in the development and deployment of high-efficiency, low-emissions coal technologies, including pressurized, fluidized bed plants, the academy said Tuesday. Markowsky began his career with AEP in 1971 as a senior engineer and has held various positions throughout the company. He was appointed to his present position in power generation in 1996 and is responsible for the fossil and hydro generating facilities, technical support, affiliate coal mining, coal procurement and transportation and environmental services. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Pratt Institute, a master's from Cornell University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a doctorate from Cornell University. He is also a licensed professional engineer in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Markowsky is the author of a number of publications in the power generation area. He is a member of the Association of Edison Illumination Companies, serving as chairman of the Power Generation Committee; a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Industry Advisory Board; chairman of the Coal Utilization Research Council and chairman of the National Research Council's Committee on Research & Development Opportunities for Coal-fired Energy Complexes. AEP, a global energy company, is one of the United States' largest investor-owned utilities, providing energy to 3 million customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. AEP has holdings in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia. Wholly owned subsidiaries provide power engineering, energy consulting and energy management services around the world. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio. On Dec. 22, 1997, AEP announced a definitive merger agreement for a tax-free, stock-for-stock transaction with Central and South West Corp., a public utility holding company based in Dallas.