TSA names rail officials to security advisory committee

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has appointed 25 voting members to serve on the Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee (STSAC), which met yesterday.

Among the committee's 25 appointees, 13 are new members and 12 were reappointed, TSA officials said in a press release.

New members include:

• Roy Morrison, safety director for the Brotherhood of Maintenance-of-Way Employes Division-International Brotherhood of Teamsters;
• Brandon Myers, assistant police chief for CN;
• Fred Oelsner, vice president of data and technology for the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association;
• Al Stiehler, director of transit security and passenger safety for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System;
• James Tollerson, infrastructure security director for Norfolk Southern Railway; and
• Vince Verna, VP and national legislative representative for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.

Reappointed members include:

• Tom Farmer, assistant VP of security at the Association of American Railroads;
• Robert Finnegan, chief security and safety officer for the Delaware River Port Authority; 
• Herschel Flowers, homeland security manager and special agent for Kansas City Southern;
• Polly Hanson, senior director of security, risk and emergency management for the American Public Transportation Association;
• Donald Loftis, principle software engineer and primary rail security coordinator for Olin Corp.;
• Anthony Mercogliano, deputy chief of security operations for Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City; and
• Joseph Perez, chief of police and security for Metra.

Established in 2019, the STSAC advises the TSA administrator on surface transportation security matters, including recommendations for the development, refinement, and implementation of policies, programs, initiatives, rulemakings and security directives pertaining to the surface transportation sector.