MIPRC welcomes new Amtrak President, CEO Moormon

Charles Wilson “Wick” Moormon will take over as president and CEO of Amtrak on Sept. 1, replacing Joseph Boardman, who has held the post since November 2008, Amtrak announced today. 

Moormon was president and CEO of Norfolk Southern Corp., where he succeeded David Goode in 2006.
He was named “Railroader of the Year” in 2011 by Railway Age magazine. That same year, he also revived Norfolk Southern’s steam engine excursion program.


“MIPRC thanks Joe Boardman for his leadership of Amtrak, and for laying the groundwork for Mr. Moorman to bring Amtrak to the next level,” said MIPRC Chair Tim Hoeffner. “We look forward to continuing our productive partnership with Amtrak, with Mr. Moorman at the helm, to grow efficient, effective passenger rail service in the Midwest.”

Last fall, Boardman announced his intention to retire.

Born in New Orleans, Moormon grew up in Hattiesburg, Miss. He joined the Southern Railway in 1970 via a co-operative education program at the Georgian Institute of Technology. Hired as an engineering management trainee, he began as a track supervisor in the right-of-way maintenance department. His ascension of the corporate ladder included a stint at vice president of personnel and labor relations, IT, overseeing the integration of ex-Conrail into the NS system and culture, installation of PTC and dealing with the decline of coal and the implications of that for a railroad built on hauling coal out of Appalachia.

Anthony Coscia, chairman of the Board of Directors of Amtrak said, “We are very pleased that someone with Wick’s experience and vision will lead Amtrak during this critical period as the company charts a course for future growth and improvement. Under CEO Joe Boardman, and with the support of the Administration and Congress, Amtrak has achieved record levels of performance and investment.”

“The Board believes Wick can build upon this success in the coming year by launching initiatives to further enhance safety and customer service, modernize our operations, and guide our implementation of the FAST Act,” Coscia said.