The City Council of Salem, Virginia, has declared December 11, 2025, as ‘A.K. Briele Day’ to honor August ‘A.K.’ Briele III. Mr. Briele will retire as the City’s Electric Department Director at the end of this year. He has worked for the city for 43 years, beginning his career in 1982 as an Electrical Engineer after graduating from Virginia Tech in 1981.
Mr. Briele was recognized early in his career for his work ethic and commitment. He was promoted to Assistant Director in less than eight years and became Director in 2002. He has held this position for over 20 years. During his tenure, he focused on efficient power restoration and service to Salem’s residents.
The Salem Electric Department received national recognition from the American Public Power Association under Mr. Briele’s leadership. The city’s average power interruption time for non-emergency events was 10 minutes, compared to the national average of 139 minutes. This result highlights the department’s operational performance…