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Alaska Railroad Corp. (ARRC) Chief Engineer/Vice President of Engineering Tom Brooks will retire in May and will be succeeded by engineering veteran Clark Hopp, ARRC officials announced last week.

Hopp has been ARRC's director of special projects since 2011. In that role, he oversees two major rail extension projects: the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension and Northern Rail Extension's first phase.

Hopp joined ARRC in 2001 as a capital projects manager, and in 2003 became manager of civil projects. Prior to joining the railroad, he worked for engineering firm Transystems Corp. From 1995 to 2001, Hopp provided project management services to BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad.

"Clark has proven himself repeatedly as a very effective project manager for our railroad and for much larger railroads," said Brooks, who joined ARRC in 1986 as the engineering office supervisor.

In 1987, Brooks was named manager of civil engineering, marking the first of several promotions during his 27-year career. In 1991, he became chief engineer. Brooks later added the executive duties as assistant VP of projects in 2005, and rose to VP of engineering in 2010.

ARRC "has benefitted greatly" from Brooks leadership, said President and Chief Executive Chris Aadnesen.