AAR hires Arnakis as SVP of government affairs

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has named Adrian Arnakis its next senior vice president of government affairs.

She will succeed Ian Jefferies, who will become AAR's next president and chief executive officer Jan. 1, 2019, following the retirement of Edward Hamberger.

Arnakis has more than 13 years of experience in the U.S. Senate, where she established herself as a policy leader and trusted adviser on transportation and infrastructure issues, AAR officials said in a press release.

Since 2016, she served as the deputy staff director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Prior to that role, she was the committee's counsel and policy director of surface transportation and oceans from 2013 to 2015.

"Adrian's command of rail issues and proven record of legislative accomplishments makes her the ideal voice to lead the industry's government affairs efforts here in Washington," said Jefferies. "At the Senate Commerce Committee, she built bipartisan consensus to advance commonsense, forward-looking policies like the 2015 FAST Act and the 2015 Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization. AAR and the rail industry will benefit immensely from her strategic guidance and expertise."