STB Appoints Director of Office of Economics and Senior Advisor

Surface Transportation Board Chairman Patrick Fuchs today announced that, with the approval of the Board, Marty Schlenker has been appointed to serve as Director of the STB's Office of Economics. Chairman Fuchs also announced that Terrence McDermott has been appointed as a senior advisor to the Chairman. These appointments strengthen the Board's expert staff, supporting ongoing reform efforts and ensuring the continued efficient and effective advancement of the agency's mission. Immediately prior to their new roles, Mr. Schlenker and Mr. McDermott held temporary transition appointments at the Board.

As Director of the Office of Economics, Mr. Schlenker will oversee critical agency analytical functions, including data gathering and reporting and economic and industry analysis related to Board decisions. Mr. Schlenker brings extensive experience and deep expertise in data analysis, supply chain and rail technology, and rail operations planning. He previously served as Head of Strategy for autonomous rail startup Parallel Systems, operated a supply chain and technology consulting practice, served in a finance role at CSX Transportation, and held senior leadership roles in service planning and technology at BNSF Railway. Mr. Schlenker also has held leadership roles in the Railway Applications Section of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) and the American Railway Engineering & Maintenance Association (AREMA). Mr. Schlenker holds an MS in Transportation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Center for Transportation Studies, and a BA in Economics from the University of Chicago.

Mr. McDermott, the former Director of Supply Chain-North American Rail with global agribusiness company Bunge, brings significant transportation experience and extensive supply chain knowledge from both shipper and railroad perspectives. He previously held senior roles at Ferromex, a Mexican railroad owned by Grupo México and Union Pacific, including service as Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Sales for Agricultural Products, Intermodal, and Automotive. Mr. McDermott has served on the Board's Rail-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council and National Grain Car Council, as well as in leadership positions with the Transportation, Elevator, and Grain Merchants Association (TEGMA) and North American Freight Car Association (NAFCA). He also served on the Transportation Committees of the National Oilseed Processors Association and the Rail Shippers/Receivers Committee of the National Grain and Feed Association. He holds an MBA and BBA in International Business from New Mexico State University, and certificates in Supply Chain, Finance, and Leadership from Washington University in St. Louis.

"Marty's leadership and deep knowledge of data analytics, rail operations, and finance will be essential to the agency's advancement of an efficient and effective regulatory environment," said Chairman Fuchs. "Terry's extensive expertise and experience from both shipper and railroad perspectives will be critical to the Board's efforts to assess complex supply chain dynamics and implement sound, thoughtful solutions. Both Mr. Schlenker and Mr. McDermott strengthen the Board's analysis of the applied effects of its actions. I am grateful for their continued commitment to serving the public."