NS leaders recognized among rail industry's Rising Stars

Jul 23, 2026

Two Norfolk Southern leaders have been recognized among the railroad industry's emerging talent. Senior Director of Mechanical Operations & Support - Brian Yeager and Senior Manager of Continuous Improvement, Network Design and Optimization - Josh Williamson, have been named to Progressive Railroading's 2026 Rising Stars class, an annual recognition honoring railroad professionals under 40 who are making a significant impact on the industry. They will be featured for this award in the September issue of the magazine.

Driving innovation and operational excellence

The Rising Stars program recognizes professionals whose leadership, innovation, and results are helping shape the future of railroading. This year's honorees reflect NS’ commitment to developing talent and advancing solutions that improve the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the railroad.

Brian Yeager: Advancing the future of freight rail inspection

As Senior Director of Mechanical Operations and Support, Yeager oversees freight-car repair processes and engineering, manages wayside systems and helps ensure the effective maintenance of Norfolk Southern's freight-car fleet. He also serves as a representative on several Association of American Railroads committees.

Progressive Railroading highlighted Yeager's role in helping transform freight rail inspections through advanced technologies and data-driven insights. During his career, he helped lead the deployment of innovations including NS’ 360-degree machine vision portals, wheel integrity systems, and wayside inspection corridors.

Yeager says he’s always been fascinated by transportation and heavy machinery, and railroading brought those interests together. That passion has helped fuel a career focused on challenging the status quo and finding new ways to modernize railroad operations.

“I'm honored to be recognized by Progressive Railroading as a Rising Star. Throughout my career at Norfolk Southern, I've been fortunate to work alongside talented railroaders who continually challenge what's possible. Emerging technologies and data-driven insights are creating exciting opportunities to modernize our industry, and I'm proud to be part of the team helping drive that progress.” — Brian Yeager, NS Senior Director Mechanical Operations and Support

Josh Williamson: Building a smarter, more agile railroad

Williamson serves as Senior Manager of Continuous Improvement, Network Design and Optimization, where he helps identify operational constraints and uncover opportunities to improve efficiency acrossNS’ network. His work focuses on delivering actionable, data-driven insights that improve network fluidity, reduce costs, and strengthen performance.

A former conductor and yardmaster, Williamson has built a career centered on challenging assumptions and pursue continuous improvement. Progressive Railroading recognized him for delivering measurable operational results that strengthen customer service and help drive a smarter, faster, and more agile railroad.

Throughout his career, Williamson has encouraged others to embrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and continue pushing for improvement. He believes the future of railroading depends on developing the next generation of operational leaders while finding new ways to adapt and innovate.

“This recognition is incredibly meaningful because it reflects the work of many people, I've had the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with throughout my career. Continuous improvement is ultimately about finding better ways to serve our customers, support our employees and strengthen the railroad, and I'm grateful to be part of a team that embraces that mindset every day.” — Josh Williamson, NS Senior Manager Continuous Improvement, Network Design and Optimization

Recognizing the next generation of railroad leadership

Yeager and Williamson represent the depth of talent across NS and the many employees working every day to advance the railroad through innovation, operational excellence, and leadership. Their recognition as Progressive Railroading Rising Stars highlights the impact NS employees are making both across the company and throughout the industry.

By Kasandra Jenkins, Communications Manager

Kasandra Jenkins assists with external communications for Norfolk Southern, focusing on community impact, awards, and media relations. Kasandra joined NS in 2025, with more than 10 years of media relations, and corporate/crisis communications experience.