Wick Moorman

Wick Moorman
Name	Wick Moorman
Birth date	1949
Birth place	Roanoke, Virginia, United States
Occupation	Business executive, railroad executive
Years active	1970s–present
Known for	Leadership of Norfolk Southern, interim CEO of Amtrak

Wick Moorman

Richard "Wick" Moorman (born 1949) is an American business executive known for senior leadership in the North American railroad industry and a stint as interim chief executive of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. He built a multi-decade career at major freight carriers and played a prominent role in corporate governance, operations, and strategic planning for railroads and transportation-related institutions.

Early life and education

Moorman was born in Roanoke, Virginia, and raised in the Appalachian region near Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley. He attended public schools in Virginia before earning a bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University and a law degree from University of Virginia School of Law. During his formative years he was influenced by regional rail history tied to Norfolk & Western Railway and industrial centers such as Pittsburgh and Cleveland. His legal training exposed him to corporate law practice in jurisdictions including Richmond, Virginia and Roanoke, Virginia.

Career

Moorman began his career in the railroad sector after law school, joining the legal and corporate ranks of freight carriers at a time of consolidation that involved companies like Southern Railway, Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, and Chessie System. He joined Norfolk Southern Railway in the late 20th century and rose through operational and executive positions including general counsel and chief operating officer. Across his career he worked with regulatory institutions such as the Surface Transportation Board and the United States Department of Transportation, and engaged with labor organizations including the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the American Train Dispatchers Association. His career intersected with executives and boards of major corporations and entities such as CSX Corporation, Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, and the Association of American Railroads.

Leadership at Norfolk Southern

At Norfolk Southern Railway, Moorman held successive senior roles culminating in his appointment as president and chief executive officer. He led initiatives addressing network operations, safety rules, and capital investment programs tied to intermodal hubs and merchandise flows serving ports like Port of Virginia and gateways such as Chicago and Atlanta. Under his leadership Norfolk Southern engaged in technology deployments related to positive train control, railcar tracking, and freight car maintenance strategies that involved vendors and partners including GE Transportation and Wabtec Corporation. Moorman navigated regulatory matters before the Federal Railroad Administration and maintained stakeholder engagement with shippers such as CSX Corporation competitors and large manufacturing customers in Detroit and Houston. His tenure corresponded with industry-wide trends toward precision scheduled railroading, network rationalization, and investment in infrastructure to support supply chains for companies like Walmart, Amazon (company), and General Motors.

CEO of Amtrak

In 2016 Moorman left Norfolk Southern to become president and chief executive officer of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) on an interim basis. During his time at Amtrak he focused on operational reliability across corridors such as the Northeast Corridor and state-supported services linking markets like New York (state), Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Jersey. He worked with federal and state transportation authorities including the U.S. Department of Transportation and governors from jurisdictions that subsidize intercity routes, coordinated with labor unions including the Transport Workers Union of America and Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, and engaged on funding and capital projects such as the Gateway Program linking New York City and New Jersey. Moorman prioritized on-time performance, customer experience improvements, and infrastructure planning involving stakeholders like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Amtrak's private-sector contractors. He announced his planned departure from Amtrak in 2017, transitioning leadership to a permanent CEO while leaving a legacy of operational reforms and board-level planning.

Later activities and board memberships

After Amtrak, Moorman served on corporate and nonprofit boards, leveraging his rail and legal experience. He joined boards and advisory councils connected to transportation, supply chain, and higher education institutions, interacting with organizations such as Norfolk Southern Corporation board committees, Washington and Lee University trustees, and industry groups including the Association of American Railroads and regional chambers of commerce. His board service extended to companies and entities in logistics, manufacturing, and professional services, bringing insights relevant to boards of Wabtec Corporation, rail suppliers, and state transportation agencies. Moorman also participated in conferences and roundtables with leaders from U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Council on Foreign Relations events on infrastructure, and academic symposia at institutions like Harvard Kennedy School and Columbia University focused on transportation policy.

Personal life

Moorman is married and has family ties in Virginia. He has been involved in civic and philanthropic activities in the Roanoke, Virginia region and supports educational initiatives at alma maters such as Washington and Lee University and University of Virginia. He has been recognized in industry publications and by trade groups for his leadership in rail transportation and his contributions to discussions about national and regional infrastructure planning.

Category:People from Roanoke, Virginia Category:American railroad executives Category:Norfolk Southern Railway people