Amtrak names Winters inspector general

Amtrak has appointed Kevin Winters inspector general. He succeeds Tom Howard, who is retiring after four decades spent in senior federal accountability roles.

Winters has served as deputy inspector general and counsel since 2015, after 10 years as a senior executive with NASA's Office of Inspector General (OIG).

"Kevin is a highly respected leader in the inspector general community and has  a strong knowledge of Amtrak's business operations and critical mission," said Amtrak Chairman Tony Coscia in a press release. "He also has the integrity and objectivity required for this independent role."

Prior to joining the OIG, Winters served in the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring as a brigadier general.

Howard announced his plan to retire in November 2018. He joined the OIG in 2010 as deputy inspector general and has served as Amtrak's inspector general for the past five years.

During his tenure, Howard initiated a reorganization of the OIG that addressed high-impact issues faced by Amtrak, railroad officials said.

"Tom has left a lasting, positive mark on Amtrak's Office of Inspector General and I've greatly valued his objectivity in providing unvarnished assessments of the company's programs and operations," Coscia said.