advertisement

---

On July 9, Burlington Northern Santa Fe announced an engineering reorganization designed to "better align the department with key traffic corridors, and increase focus on organizational development, engineering technology and strategic initiatives," according to a prepared statement.


Dave Hestermann has been appointed to the newly created position of assistant vice president, chief engineer-central territory, responsible for BNSF's Powder River, Nebraska, Texas, Gulf and Springfield divisions; and Mike Armstrong was named AVP, chief engineer-north territory, responsible for the Northwest, Montana and Twin Cities divisions. Steve Goodall will continue to serve as AVP, chief engineer-south territory, responsible for the Chicago, Kansas, Northern and Southern California, and Southwest divisions.


"As part of this reorganization, we studied similar departments at other Class I railroads and thoroughly reviewed the span of control within the layers of our own organization," said BNSF Vice President of Engineering Greg Fox. "The changes are designed to create developmental opportunities and re-emphasize our focus on our people by helping to ensure we have the right people with the right skills in the right places."


At the General Director Maintenance (GDM) level, Scott Kluthe, who formerly served as GDM for the Northern and Southern California, and Southwest divisions, now also will be responsible for the Northwest Division; Terminal Superintendent Steve Anderson was named GDM for the Northern and Southern California divisions; Springfield Division GDM Bill Seeger now also will be responsible for the Nebraska and Powder River divisions; and Scott Kiefer, who formerly served as GDM for the Nebraska and Powder River divisions, was appointed to the newly created position of GDM for the Southwest Division.


"We also have changed the boundaries of some territories to better align with maintenance-of-way seniority districts," said Fox.