O'Brien Mills

As Vice President of Safety, O’Brien Mills brings nearly 30 years of invaluable experience to Aldridge, ensuring the success and safety of every project. Since joining Aldridge in 2001, O’Brien has been a pivotal leader in fostering a robust safety culture across the company. His dedication to creating an Incident and Injury Free (IIF) workplace, initiated in early 2014, has yielded significant and measurable results. Under his leadership, Aldridge has seen a reduction in the total number of Lost Work Days, even as Total Hours Worked have increased by 33%. 

O’Brien aims to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for all employees and subcontractors. His passion for safety and the well-being of others drives his management of nearly 30 full-time safety professionals and trainers, all working to uphold Aldridge’s commitment to a safe workspace. 

Central to Aldridge's approach is Aldridge’s "Making Safe Decisions®" initiative. This approach enhances human performance reliability by deepening employees' understanding of how the brain influences the recognition of SHOK (Seriously Hurt or Killed) exposure. Through this initiative, Aldridge strengthens its safety culture, emphasizing proactive decision-making and heightened awareness to mitigate exposures and ensure the safety of everyone on site. 

O’Brien is also actively involved in the industry beyond Aldridge. He has been a member of the OSHA Electrical Transmission & Distribution (ET&D) Partnership Steering Committee since 2016, serving as a key voice in promoting industry-wide safety standards. Additionally, his leadership roles include serving on contractor boards and as a past president of industry associations, where he has influenced safety practices across the sector. 

On a personal note, O’Brien lives in Chicago with his wife Genny, and their six children. An avid golfer, he enjoys spending his free time on the golf course, balancing his professional dedication with personal passions.