Charles “Chuck” Baker, President
American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA)
Chuck Baker joined ASLRRA as President in February 2019 after a 15-year career in the railroad industry.
Before joining ASLRRA he was a Partner at Chambers Conlon & Hartwell (CC&H), where, in addition to the ASLRRA, he represented clients such as the National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC), the OneRail Coalition, the American Railway Development Association, Norfolk Southern, and Canadian National.
For the NRC, Mr. Baker also served as President. In that capacity, he had responsibility for all of the Association’s core financial, operational, and legal programs, including the development and execution of the federal legislative and regulatory program in front of both Congress and the Administration.
For the OneRail Coalition, which brought together freight rail, intercity passenger rail, commuter rail, rail labor, and rail supply industry interests, Mr. Baker coordinated the group’s activities and messaging.
Prior to joining CC&H, Mr. Baker worked with the Surface Transportation Policy Project in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Baker has also worked for Deutsche Bank Securities as an investment banker specializing in Corporate Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions in San Francisco, CA.
Mr. Baker is a native of Baltimore, MD, and a graduate of Rice University in Houston, TX.
David Fink, Administrator
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
David Armstrong Fink brings over 45 years of distinguished leadership in the transportation sector. A fifth-generation railroader, his career spans senior roles across both freight and passenger operations, grounded in a lifelong commitment to the industry.
Fink previously served as President of Pan Am Railways, where he modernized operations, elevated safety standards, and spearheaded technological innovation, including championing the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) and other advanced safety system. His efforts contributed to a measurable reduction in rail accidents and improved operational reliability.
As FRA Administrator, Fink intends to refresh outdated regulatory frameworks, accelerate deployment of safety technologies, and support critical projects through targeted grant programs. He is committed advancing FRA’s mission of zero injuries and zero accidents on U.S. railroads – ensuring a safer, more efficient and sustainable rail system for the 21st century.
Fink holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Science in Transportation and Physical Distribution Management from Northeastern University. Fink and his wife of 40 years live in New Hampshire; they have two children and recently welcomed their first granddaughter.
Patrick Fuchs, Chairman
Surface Transportation Board
Patrick Fuchs was designated as Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board by President Donald J. Trump, effective January 20, 2025. He was sworn in on January 17, 2019, as a Member of the Board and re-confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 14, 2024. His second term expires on January 14, 2029.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Fuchs was senior professional staff member working on surface transportation and maritime issues for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation under the leadership of Chairman John Thune of South Dakota.
Mr. Fuchs has played an integral role in the development and enactment of major railroad legislation, including the first reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Board since its creation in 1996. He also worked on legislation to improve rail project delivery, rail financing, and hazardous materials safety, all of which were enacted as part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), the five-year, $305 billion surface transportation authorization.
Mr. Fuchs helped develop and enact the first reauthorization of the National Transportation Safety Board in over a decade. He also worked on legislation to increase safety by addressing opioid abuse in transportation, reforms enacted as part of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. His work also includes reauthorization of the Federal Maritime Commission as well as three reauthorizations of the Maritime Administration, enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2017, 2018, and 2019. Prior to serving Chairman Thune, he was a policy analyst and Presidential Management Fellow at the Office of Management and Budget (0MB), where he managed railroad and maritime regulatory reviews. During his time at 0MB, Mr. Fuchs worked on regulations pertaining to rail safety technology, rail tank car safety, and railroad operating practices, among other issues. His experience also includes time with the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Government Accountability Office, and the National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education.
A Wisconsin native, Mr. Fuchs graduated with a distinction in economics and political science and earned an M.P.A. from the University of Wisconsin.
Ian Jefferies, President and Chief Executive Officer
Association of American Railroads (AAR)
As the Association of American Railroads (AAR’s) president and CEO, Jefferies advocates for and works with member railroads to ensure the continued viability of America’s railroad industry. Prior to assuming the role on January 1, 2019, Jefferies was the senior vice president of AAR’s government affairs where he led the development, promotion and implementation of legislative priorities for the AAR.
Before joining the AAR, Jefferies cultivated more than a decade of experience working within government. From 2009 to 2013, Jefferies served as a senior policy advisor to the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. In this role, Jefferies provided policy guidance on a host of transportation issues, including railroad economic regulation, rail safety and passenger rail. Jefferies also led the successful development, negotiation and reauthorization of major infrastructure legislation and managed the successful conference of Committee legislation relating to the 2012 surface transportation reauthorization law, MAP 21.
Jefferies began his career in government serving as a Senior Advisor to the Mayor of Lexington, Kentucky, before transitioning to the federal government. Prior to serving in the United States Senate, he worked for the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Government Accountability Office. In these roles, Jefferies led program reviews on a variety of issues including infrastructure development, international trade, major weapon systems acquisition and federal contracting.
Jefferies received his Master of Science in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA and his Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY.
Jefferies and his wife reside with their three children in Alexandria, VA.
David Souder, Dean
The Eli and Edythe L. Broad College of Business
David Souder is The Eli and Edythe L. Broad Dean for the Broad College of Business. He previously was the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research at the University of Connecticut School of Business, and a Professor in the Management and Entrepreneurship Department. He earned his BS from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, with concentrations in Finance and Strategic Management, and his PhD in Strategic Management and Organization from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Souder’s research focuses on corporate short-termism and long-term thinking, and he frequently speaks with media and business groups on related topics. In conjunction with the Network for Business Sustainability, he is the lead author of a systematic review and executive report on ways to incorporate long-term thinking into current business decisions.
David has prior leadership experience as the Interim Campus Director for UConn Stamford, Interim Dean for the UConn School of Business, and the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. Before joining academia, he worked in the private sector as a strategy consultant based in New York and London.