Amtrak hires Mason as EVP of major program delivery

Amtrak has named Laura Mason executive vice president of major program delivery to lead a new organization responsible for delivering Amtrak’s largest infrastructure, fleet and station programs.

Mason will join the railroad on June 28 and report to Amtrak President Stephen Gardner.

At Amtrak, Mason will lead strategy in developing the railroad’s largest and most complex projects. She also will coordinate with stakeholders and external partners to deliver those projects efficiently and effectively in compliance with all safety, regulatory, program-management and reporting requirements, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

"With well over $40 billion of critical infrastructure, station and fleet investments in the planning and development phase, Laura will bring focused executive experience and leadership to the task of turning our ambitious plans into reality," Gardner said.

For the past five years, Mason has served in a variety of leadership roles with Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). As executive vice president of capital delivery, she has been responsible for project management, engineering and construction of major capital projects, infrastructure renewal, capital-program planning, and the scheduling and contracting strategy for WMATA's entire capital program.

In other roles at WMATA, Mason oversaw engineering, maintenance, transportation, and control-center functions for fixed infrastructure and rolling stock. As chief of maintenance of way engineering, she drove rail safety and reliability through improved maintenance, track allocation and new technology. From 2016-2017, Mason served as director of SafeTrack, a year-long emergency track work program to accelerate three years' work into one year.

In April, Progressive Railroading named Mason a Rising Star Award winner for 2021. She, along with 24 other Rising Stars, will be recognized July 20 during a virtual celebration of their achievements in railroading.