Amtrak Making Changes for 2007

With new President & CEO Alexander Kummant at the helm, Amtrak is implementing big changes. Most recently, the nation's rail system announced key executive changes that are expected to have a major impact on the future of rail travel for America.

"My goal is to find the most efficient and effective way to run our trains," Kummant told Veterans Advantage in an exclusive interview. "We have set ridership and revenue goals for the fiscal year and to-date, we are ahead of those goals, so that's very encouraging."

Technology: Taps Army Veteran its New CIO
With a drive for efficiency, automation and increased ticket sale over the Internet, Amtrak has beefed up its technology talent, re-hiring H. Edgar (“Ed”) Trainor as Chief Information Officer (CIO). An Army veteran who served two years in the 1960s, Trainor previously served as Assistant Vice President, Computer Services at Amtrak from 1976 to 1985, and held high-profile positions elsewhere before returning back to his roots.

Most notably, since 1994, Trainor served as Senor Vice President/CIO of Paramount Pictures, where he led large systems integration teams through a number of mergers and divestitures, and the reengineering of international business processes.

Trainor holds a BS in Business Administration from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina and an MBA from The American University. He is the author of several books and publications.

Vision & Execution
To help build his vision for the company, Kummant tapped Roy Johanson, as Vice President, Planning and Analysis, at the railroad’s corporate headquarters. Johanson will assist Kummant in developing the company’s strategic direction and updating the corporation’s annual Five-Year Strategic Plan.

Since 2005, Johanson has served as the Chief Executive Officer for Foresti Partners LLC, where he was involved in corporate strategy development for a variety of industrial and manufacturing clients. For the six years prior to Foresti Partners, Johanson was an Engagement Manager for McKinsey & Company, where he led teams of consultants and clients addressing critical corporate strategic issues. A licensed professional engineer, Johanson has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan as well as an M.B.A. from Cornell University.

Security
Amtrak also announced the appointment of James F. McDonnell III as Chief Risk Officer for the railroad. McDonnell comes to Amtrak with more than 30 years of national and international security and counterterrorism experience including senior management and advisory positions in government and the private sector. In his new role, McDonnell will be responsible for all security matters involving risks to Amtrak passengers, trains, stations, and facilities across the country. He will lead the railroad’s extensive liaison with federal, state and local public safety agencies.

“We welcome the breadth of knowledge and experience that Jim brings to Amtrak,” said Kummant. “His expertise in national security and counterterrorism and emergency preparedness will be vital to enhancing the safety of our passengers and employees.”

Immediately following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, McDonnell accepted an executive appointment at the Department of Energy where he led the Office of Energy Assurance. When the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was announced, he moved to the White House Homeland Security Transition Planning Office where he was responsible for developing the plans, budgets and policies required to transfer operations from six federal agencies into DHS. Following the creation of DHS, McDonnell served as Director of the Protective Security Division of DHS and was a key leader in the management of all national responses to threats, incidents, and national disasters.