Former Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chair Ann Dawn Begeman has joined the CSX Board of Directors.
Begeman’s career has spanned more than three decades in public service, primarily in the Legislative and Executive Branches of the U.S. government, where she focused on transportation policy. She contributed to the development of significant legislation, including the ICC Termination Act, which dissolved the Interstate Commerce Commission and established the STB. From 2011 through 2021, Begeman served as a two-term Presidential appointee to the STB. “During her tenure, she improved the STB’s accountability, transparency and efficiency while holding leadership positions as the Chairm and Acting Chair from 2017 to 2021, as well as Vice Chair,” CSX noted. “Since 2022, she has been leveraging her expertise as a consultant on railroad regulatory and government affairs matters.”
In recognition of her work at the STB, Begeman, 59, was named a 2020 Railway Age Women in Rail award recipient.
Begeman began her career in public service by spending nearly two decades working in various capacities within the U.S. Senate, including as Republican Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Additionally, she held positions as Deputy Staff Director and Transportation Policy Advisor for the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, as well as Legislative Director and Acting Chief of Staff for the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz).
“Ann brings a wealth of industry expertise and knowledge to our team where she will play a vital role in our commitment to deliver service excellence and business growth,” said Joe Hinrichs, CSX President and CEO and Railway Age’s 2025 Railroader of the Year. “We are delighted to have her join our Board as CSX continues to transform and strengthen our company while generating profitable growth through a better customer experience.”
Railway Age Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Frank N. Wilner, author of “Railroads & Economic Regulation, An Insider’s Account,” reports that Begeman is the 21st of 117 members of the STB and its Interstate Commerce Commission predecessor subsequently employed by railroads. They include, with years of ICC/STB service:
- Aldace F. Walker, 1887-1889, became president and CEO, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (now part of BNSF).
- William J. Calhoun, 1898-1899, became legal counsel, Baltimore & Ohio (now part of CSX).
- Ezra Brainerd Jr., 1927-1933, became outside legal counsel, Baltimore & Ohio.
- J. Monroe Johnson, 1940-1956, became assistant to the president, Atlantic Coast Line (now part of CSX).
- Owen F. Clarke, 1953-1958, became vice president, Chesapeake & Ohio (now part of CSX).
- Howard G. Freas, 1953-1956, became assistant to the president, Southern (now part of Norfolk Southern).
- Robert W. Minor, 1956-1958, became chief legal officer, New York Central (now part of CSX and Norfolk Southern).
- William H. Tucker, 1961-1967, became vice president, Penn Central (now part of CSX and Norfolk Southern).
- Betty Jo Christian, 1976-1979, became outside legal counsel, Burlington Northern (now part of BNSF).
- Darius W. Gaskins, 1979-1981, became CEO, Burlington Northern (now part of BNSF).
- Thomas A. Trantum, 1979-1981, became CEO, Gulf & Mississippi.
- Reese H. Taylor Jr., 1981-1985, became consultant to CSX.
- Jacob J. (Jake) Simmons III, 1982-1983 and 1984-1996, became consultant to CSX.
- Heather J. Gradison, 1982-1990, became shortline holding company Rail-Tex board member.
- Karen B Phillips, 1988-1994, became lobbyist, Association of American Railroads and CN.
- Linda J. Morgan, 1994-2003, became outside legal counsel, Union Pacific and board member, Canadian Pacific.
- William Clyburn Jr., 1998-2001, became board member, Norfolk Southern.
- Roger Nober, 2002-2006, became chief legal officer, BNSF.
- Francis P. (Frank) Mulvey, 2004-2013, became economics consultant to multiple railroads.
- Charles D. Nottingham, 2006-2011, became consultant to Canadian Pacific and represented CSX.
“Begeman became known as the ‘dissenter-in-chief’ for her propensity to write dissents,” Wilner notes. “Transportation attorney Thomas J. Litwiler calculated that during her tenure on the STB, she wrote 40% of all dissents since the STB was created in 1996 to succeed the ICC.”
