The Board of Directors of Metra, the Chicago area commuter rail service, has unanimously selected James M. Derwinski executive director and chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2018. He succeeds Don Orseno, who will retire at the end of this year.
Derwinski joined Metra in 1997 and has served in various roles, including foreman, general foreman, shop superintendent, director of systems maintenance, locomotive superintendent, Rock Island division director, Milwaukee division director, and senior director of mechanical operation.
In 2013, he was named chief mechanical officer, overseeing 650 employees responsible for the repair, inspection, cleaning and maintenance of nearly 1,200 railcars and locomotives. He is also responsible for in-house railcar and locomotive rehabilitation programs, a contract for locomotive remanufacturing and the installation of Positive Train Control on cab cars and engines.
He began his railroad career as a locomotive electrician with the Chicago & North Western Railroad in 1993, after having served for six years in the U.S. Navy as an electrician on nuclear submarines.
“In Jim Derwinski we have an inspirational leader, well known for his effective communications and ability to develop people, thus earning him great respect within Metra. Using his intelligence and skills, Jim has developed processes and procedures that make efficient use of taxpayer dollars,” said Metra Board Chairman Norman Carlson. “Prime examples are his department’s rolling stock rehabilitation, remanufacturing and maintenance programs that keep our aging cars and locomotives running – helping us to meet our on-time performance goal for 29 months and counting.”
“With Jim’s background, railroad knowledge and collaborative working relationship with BNSF, Union Pacific and the regulatory agencies, I am confident he will hit the ground running when he takes the helm at Metra in 2018,” Orseno said. “I will be pleased to leave the agency under Jim’s leadership.”