SJRRC
Chris Orlando has been named CEO of SJRRC, which owns and operates, and is the policy-making body for the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) commuter rail service connecting Stockton and San Jose, Calif. SJRRC is governed by a Board of Directors comprising six full-voting members from San Joaquin County and two special-voting members from Alameda County.
With more than two decades of leadership experience across public transportation, government, strategic communications, and private-sector business development, Orlando served most recently as Deputy Managing Director for the Los Angeles–San Diego–San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency (LOSSAN), which oversees the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, an intercity rail service based in Southern California. He also held leadership roles at the North County Transit District (NCTD), where his responsibilities spanned rail and bus operations, strategic planning, innovative mobility solutions, customer service improvements, government affairs, and capital funding and grant programs. Additionally, Orlando served 12 years on the San Marcos City Council, helping guide regional planning, transit-oriented development, long-range policy updates, and fiscally responsible governance. His private-sector experience includes co-founding a technology company and directing communications and strategic initiatives for national organizations.
According to SJRRC, Orlando’s “background in operational excellence, innovation, and strategic growth aligns with the Commission’s ambitious vision for the future.” In addition to his role with SJRRC, he will also serve as CEO of the SJRRC-administered San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA), which since July 2015 has been responsible for the management and administration of Gold Runner service, previously Amtrak San Joaquins. SJJPA is governed by Board Members representing each of the 10 member agencies along the 365-mile Gold Runner Corridor throughout the Central Valley and Bay Area.
“We are excited to welcome Chris Orlando as SJRRC’s next CEO,” SJRRC Chair Lisa Craig-Hensley said. “Chris brings an exceptional blend of executive leadership, public policy experience, transportation expertise, and strategic vision. His collaborative focused approach to drive major transit initiatives and strengthen regional mobility systems makes him the right leader to guide SJRRC into its next chapter. We also want to express our deep appreciation to David Lipari for his outstanding service as Interim Executive Director. His leadership during this transition has been invaluable, and we are grateful that he will continue to play a key role in the agency’s success as Deputy Executive Director. We look forward to working with both Chris and David as we continue building a transformative future for rail and bus in California.”
“I am honored to join the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission as CEO,” Chris Orlando said. “I want to thank the SJRRC Board for their confidence and for the opportunity to serve in this role. SJRRC and SJJPA together oversee a vital network of commuter rail, intercity rail, and connecting bus services, and I’m excited to help advance this integrated system. The agencies have built a strong foundation of service, innovation, and regional collaboration, and I am committed to leading the next era of growth. Together with our Board, staff, and partners, we will continue to deliver reliable, forward-looking passenger rail and transit services that connect communities and expand opportunity across the region.”
SJRRC Executive Director Stacey Mortensen stepped down from her role Aug. 31, 2025, after more than 27 years of leadership.
MDOT
Kathryn B. “Katie” Thomson on Jan. 7 will become Acting Secretary of MDOT, which comprises the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA); Maryland Port Administration (MPA); Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA); State Highway Administration (SHA); and Maryland Transit Administration (MTA); as well as the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
Thomson brings more than 30 years of experience in transportation, aviation, energy, and sustainability law, policy, and operations to her new role. She served previously as Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, where she acted as chief operating officer for an organization of more than 45,000 employees. She oversaw a $20 billion annual budget and led initiatives to enhance safety oversight, modernize national airspace infrastructure, and strengthen workforce pipelines. A veteran of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Thomson has also served as the department’s General Counsel, supervising 500 attorneys and coordinated legal work across all modes of transportation, and as director of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s implementation, managing the strategic investment of $660 billion in federal funding to modernize the nation’s infrastructure. In the private sector, Thomson was Vice president and Associate General Counsel for worldwide transportation and sustainability at Amazon, and a partner at the law firms Sidley Austin and Morrison & Foerster, with a focus on environmental and transportation law.
Thomson earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
“I am deeply grateful to [Maryland] Gov. [Wes] Moore and Lt. Gov. [Aruna K.] Miller for this incredible opportunity to serve the great State of Maryland,” Thomson said during the Dec. 18 announcement. “My experience managing complex systems has given me a clear view of the immense potential in Maryland’s transportation network, and I look forward to partnering with the dedicated MDOT team to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead—ensuring we continue to build a future that leaves no one behind.”
Paul J. Wiedefeld stepped down as Secretary on Aug. 1; MDOT Deputy Secretary Samantha J. Biddle has been serving as Acting Secretary since then.
BLET
BLET National Vice President Pete Semenek is retiring Dec. 31, marking the end of a 34-year career as both a railroader and union leader, according to the union.
Semenek began his career in 1991 on the Soo Line Railroad when he hired out as a conductor. He was promoted in 1993 to locomotive engineer, working in the Soo Line yard in Bensenville, Ill. A member of BLET Division 790 (Chicago), he was elected as Local Chairman in 1997 and served in that position until 2011, when he was elected to General Chairman for the CP Rail System/U.S. General Committee of Adjustment. Semenek was reelected as General Chairman at quadrennial meetings in 2015 and 2019. He was elected as BLET National Vice President for a term beginning on Jan. 1, 2023, at which time he was appointed head of the BLET Arbitration Department. Semenek has also served as Labor Member-First Division of the National Railroad Adjustment Board (NRAB).
“Pete Semenek has been a tireless labor leader for more than three decades, and I am proud to have worked with him,” BLET President Mark Wallace said during the BLET Advisory Board meeting held earlier this month. “Countless BLET members throughout the United States have benefitted from his leadership as Head of the BLET Arbitration Department. He will be missed. On behalf of the Advisory Board, I extend best wishes upon his well-deserved retirement.”
“It was an honor and privilege to serve as a union officer and represent the hard working Brothers and Sisters of the BLET,” Semenek said. “It was also my honor to serve alongside the fine body of officers at the BLET National Division; they are true professionals who exude great compassion for the needs of our members.”
