On September 8 President Trump nominated Howard R. Elliott to be the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Mr. Elliott is a 40-year veteran of the U.S. freight rail industry, serving over the last decade as group Vice President of Public Safety, Health, Environment and Security for CSX Transportation in Jacksonville, FL. His portfolio of responsibility included hazardous materials transportation safety, homeland security, railroad policing, crisis management, environmental compliance and operations, occupational health management and continuity of business operations.
Mr. Elliott is a pioneer and leading advocate in developing and implementing computer-based tools to assist emergency management officials, first responders, and homeland security personnel in preparing for and responding to a railroad hazardous materials or security incident. He is a recipient of the Association of American Railroads prestigious Holden-Proefrock Award for lifetime achievement in hazardous materials transportation safety.
Mr. Elliott is a graduate of Columbia Southern University and Indiana University, where he received the first ever Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of Criminal Justice. He is a current member of IU’s College of Arts and Sciences Executive Dean’s Advisory Committee.
Mr. Elliott’s nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. No timetable was announced for confirmation. For questions on this article, please contact John Erickson of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-0834 or by email at jerickson@apga.org.