US STB Confirms 2 Permanent Executive Appointments

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES – On September 24, 2026, the Surface Transportation Board confirmed 2 permanent executive appointments approved by Chairman Patrick Fuchs. Marty Schlenker assumed leadership of the Office of Economics, while Terrence McDermott took office as Senior Adviser to the Chairman following temporary transition periods. The appointments take effect as the agency prepares to review major industry actions, including Union Pacific’s proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern.

What Is the Full Scope of This Development?

The Surface Transportation Board finalized the permanent leadership appointments of Marty Schlenker and Terrence McDermott to direct its economic determinations and executive counsel. Schlenker assumes responsibility for critical data gathering, rate dispute assessments, and transaction-related economic modeling, drawing from previous tenures at CSX, BNSF Railway, and autonomous rail developer Parallel Systems. McDermott transitions to Chairman Fuchs’s advisory staff after directing North American rail supply chains at agribusiness firm Bunge and serving in management at Mexican railroad Ferromex. Specific compensation terms and contract durations for these roles were not disclosed by the agency.

Key Development Data

How Does This Compare to Industry Trends?

The appointments place career freight and shipper practitioners inside federal rail oversight at a time of rising capital commitments across global track networks. The rail infrastructure market reached USD 101.11 billion in 2025 and is projected to expand to USD 126.54 billion by 2030, advancing at a 4.59% compound annual growth rate (Source: Mordor Intelligence, 2025). The STB’s focus on operational expertise mirrors regulatory expansions that occurred prior to the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger ruling in 2023, where carrier efficiency and market concentration required detailed economic examination. Independent verification of internal economic caseload allocations was not available at time of publication.

Editor’s Analysis

Staffing the Office of Economics with a former BNSF and rail technology executive signals that Chairman Fuchs plans to enforce rigorous commercial analytics during upcoming regulatory dockets. Integrating both carrier and shipper perspectives will alter how the agency models common-carrier obligations and competition impacts during review of Union Pacific’s proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern. As global rail infrastructure capital expenditures expand toward USD 126.54 billion by 2030, federal regulatory certainty will play an increasingly central role in private network investment decisions (Source: Mordor Intelligence, 2025).

FAQ

Q: What roles did Marty Schlenker and Terrence McDermott receive at the STB?
A: Marty Schlenker was named Director of the Office of Economics, and Terrence McDermott was appointed Senior Adviser to Chairman Patrick Fuchs. Both individuals served in temporary transition capacities at the agency before their permanent appointments on September 24, 2026.

Q: What major regulatory dockets will these new appointees support?
A: The STB is actively handling major freight proceedings, including the regulatory review process for Union Pacific’s proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern. Schlenker will oversee the financial and economic analysis that informs the Board’s formal decisions on such transactions.

Q: What private sector experience do the appointees bring to the agency?
A: Schlenker previously held roles at CSX, BNSF Railway, and startup Parallel Systems, while McDermott managed rail logistics for Bunge and held senior roles at Ferromex. This combination brings direct experience from both Class I freight carriers and agricultural shippers.