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On Aug. 13, Daniel Elliott III was sworn in as the fifth Surface Transportation Board (STB) chairman. He will serve a four-year term expiring on Dec. 31, 2013.

For the past 16 years, Elliott has served as associate general counsel to the United Transportation Union (UTU). He previously practiced law at firms in Washington, D.C., and Cleveland.

Elliott, 46, pledged to have an open mind and sense of fairness at the STB, and bring more harmony to the often-contentious relationship between shippers and railroads, according to a prepared statement.

He was nominated to the board by President Barack Obama on June 20 and his appointment was confirmed by the Senate on Aug. 7. During the Senate confirmation hearing, UTU International President Mike Futhey was admonished for posting a statement on the UTU’s Web site claiming that the union’s political affairs committee helped influence the Obama Administration’s nomination of Elliott. Futhey later issued an apology to the Senate confirmation committee.