Sean Mesloh
The Alaska Railroad (ARRC) has promoted Sean Mesloh to chief mechanical officer, effective March 1, 2020. Mesloh succeeds Don Freestone, who will retire on February 28.
Mesloh began his railroad career in December 2000 as a car shop mechanical laborer in the ARRC Anchorage car shop. Within months, he began an apprenticeship then progressed through carman apprentice levels, learning to maintain freight and passenger railcars and earning full carman status in January 2004. By 2006, Mesloh was promoted to mechanical supervisor, overseeing work on railcars, locomotives and heavy equipment and gaining three more years of hands-on shop experience.
ARRC asked Mesloh to move to Fairbanks in 2008 and serve as general mechanical supervisor. In 2015, he was promoted to director of Fairbanks operations, responsible for terminal and train functions on ARRC’s north end. In November 2019, he returned to Anchorage to serve as manager of motive power and equipment.
Mesloh earned an associate’s degree in fire science and hazardous material (Hazmat) control from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
“The railroad’s transportation and equipment maintenance operations are closely tied, and a CMO with a solid background in both areas is a great asset. Plus, years spent on the mechanical front line lends credibility and perspective to Sean’s leadership. Sean is well-acquainted with our main mechanical and operating hubs in Anchorage and Fairbanks. I know he’ll hit the ground running as the newest member of our executive management team,” said Chief Operating Officer Clark Hopp.