WASHINGTON — Representatives of a broad range of rail industry interests are among the 25 voting members appointed to the Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee, as announced last week by the Transportation Security Administration.
The committee was established in 2019 to advise the TSA administrator on matters including recommendations for development and implementation of policies, rules, and security directives for surface transportation. It includes up to 40 voting members, along with 14 non-voting members serving in an advisory capacity from the departments of Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, Transportation, FBI, and National Transportation Safety Board.
Those appointed include 13 new members and 12 who are reappointed.
Among the new members are Roy Morrison, directory of safety, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Brandon Myers, assistant chief of police, Canadian National Police-North America; Fred Oelsner, vice president of data and technology, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association; Al Stiehler, director of transit security and passenger safety, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System; James Tollerson, infrastructure security director, Norfolk Southern; and Vince Verna, vice president and national legislative representative, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen.
Reappointed members include Thomas Farmer, assistant vice president-security, Assocation of American Railroads; Hershel Flowers, homeland security manager and special agent, Kansas City Southern; Polly Hanson, senior director security, risk, and emergency management, American Public Transportation Association; Donald Loftis, principle software engineer, primary rail security coordinator, Olin Corp.; Anthony Mercogliano, deputy chief security operations, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority; Joseph Perex, chief of police and security, Metra.
The full list of appointees, along with more information on the committee, is available here.
