Anacostia Rail Holdings Appoints Aimee Nolan as CLO, San Diego MTS Promotes Daniel Brislin to Top Security Role

CHICAGO, IL – Anacostia Rail Holdings has appointed Aimee Nolan as its new Chief Legal Officer, a strategic move to bolster its governance and risk functions as veteran General Counsel Mark Sidman prepares for retirement. This leadership change in the freight rail sector is mirrored in public transit, where the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has promoted Daniel Brislin to Director of Transit Security and Passenger Safety, reinforcing a strategy that has already yielded a significant reduction in crime.

Anacostia Rail Holdings has named Aimee Nolan as its new Chief Legal Officer, positioning her to guide the company’s legal and compliance framework. Nolan will take the reins from Mark Sidman, who is retiring at the end of March after a distinguished tenure as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Nolan brings a wealth of corporate legal experience, most recently serving as General Counsel at Zoro Tools Inc., an e-commerce subsidiary of W.W. Grainger Inc. Her more than 25-year career at Grainger saw her rise to the role of Vice President and Associate General Counsel. Anacostia CEO Peter Gilbertson praised Nolan’s appointment, stating she “brings the strategic mindset, operational discipline and experience needed to help [Anacostia] scale responsibly and advance our mission in the years to come.”

In the public transit sector, the San Diego MTS has elevated Daniel Brislin to Director of Transit Security and Passenger Safety, a promotion from his previous role as deputy director. Brislin, who joined MTS in 2023, succeeds the recently retired Tim Curran. With nearly three decades of public safety experience, Brislin is tasked with managing the system’s code compliance inspectors and contracted security teams. In his prior role, he spearheaded several impactful initiatives, including increasing security officer presence on vehicles and at hubs, streamlining the security hotline, and implementing comprehensive de-escalation, implicit bias, and anti-discrimination training for staff. These efforts have been credited with a notable reduction in crime across the MTS network in recent months.

Anacostia’s appointment of a new CLO comes during a period of significant leadership transitions in the legal field across major industries, underscoring the strategic importance of the role. In the technology sector, for instance, Meta recently hired C.J. Mahoney from Microsoft as its new Chief Legal Officer to navigate complex global regulatory challenges. Similarly, software giant ServiceNow appointed Hossein Nowbar, also a Microsoft veteran, as its President and Chief Legal Officer to oversee a wide portfolio including ethics, governance, and risk. These high-profile moves highlight a corporate-wide trend of entrusting seasoned legal executives with critical responsibilities that extend beyond traditional legal counsel to encompass strategic growth, corporate governance, and risk management.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Legal Leadership: Anacostia Rail Holdings is prioritizing high-level legal and risk management expertise by appointing Aimee Nolan to help guide its future growth and governance.
• Proven Safety Strategy: San Diego MTS is doubling down on a successful security approach by promoting Daniel Brislin, whose initiatives have already led to improved safety and reduced crime on the transit system.
• Cross-Industry Trend: The appointment of top legal officers is a strategic priority not just in rail but across major corporations like Meta and ServiceNow, reflecting the complex regulatory and compliance landscapes of the modern economy.

Editor’s Analysis

These two appointments, though in different segments of the rail and transit industry, signal a common theme: the growing institutionalization of specialized, strategic leadership. For a short line holding company like Anacostia, bringing in a CLO with deep experience from a major industrial supplier like Grainger indicates a focus on sophisticated governance and scalable risk management as the company matures. For a public agency like San Diego MTS, promoting a security director whose data-backed initiatives have already proven effective demonstrates a commitment to passenger safety as the core tenet of its service. Both moves show that success in today’s rail industry depends not just on operational excellence but also on robust legal, safety, and compliance frameworks led by experienced professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the new Chief Legal Officer for Anacostia Rail Holdings?

Aimee Nolan has been appointed as the new Chief Legal Officer, succeeding the retiring Mark Sidman. She was previously the General Counsel at Zoro Tools Inc., a subsidiary of W.W. Grainger Inc.

What were some of Daniel Brislin’s key achievements before his promotion at San Diego MTS?

As Deputy Director, Daniel Brislin led initiatives that increased security presence on buses and trolleys, created a new investigator position, and implemented ongoing staff training in de-escalation and anti-discrimination, which contributed to a reduction in crime.

Who is Daniel Brislin replacing at the San Diego MTS?

Daniel Brislin is taking over the Director of Transit Security and Passenger Safety role from Tim Curran, who retired last month.