Veterans Day: honoring our veterans at Norfolk Southern

This Veterans Day, NS proudly honors the service members who bring their leadership, discipline, and mission-focused mindset to our railroad. From our yards to our headquarters and everywhere in between, active-duty and veteran employees play a vital role in keeping our operations strong and our network moving — helping us serve customers and communities across America.

 Get to know the veterans driving progress at Norfolk Southern. Hear directly from them about how their military experience shapes their work — and why they joined team NS.

What was your job in the military, in civilian-friendly terms?

Over the course of my 24-year career in the United States Navy, I held a variety of leadership and operational roles across multiple global deployments. In my final assignment aboard the U.S.S. Bataan, I served as the Leading Chief Petty Officer for the Automated Data Processing (ADP) Division. In this capacity, I led a team of 25 sailors responsible for maintaining the ship’s communications systems and safeguarding its computer networks against cyber threats, ensuring mission-critical systems remained secure and fully operational.

How did you get started at Norfolk Southern, and what drew you to the company?
During my transition from the Navy, I attended a Transition Assistance Program (TAP) class where Norfolk Southern participated in the accompanying job fair. I was drawn to their Operational Supervisor Trainee program, which was specifically designed to help military veterans step into leadership roles within the company. I was impressed by the structured environment of the transportation department and saw strong alignment with my military background. Additionally, the long-term retirement benefits offered by a career in the railroad industry made the opportunity even more appealing.

How do your military skills or experiences help you succeed in your current role?
My military background instilled a strong sense of discipline, integrity, and attention to detail—qualities that are essential in EEO compliance and reporting. I’m able to navigate complex regulations, lead with accountability, and foster equitable practices across the organization. These experiences have equipped me to manage sensitive issues with professionalism and clarity.

What was your job in the military, in civilian-friendly terms?

I inspected, serviced, repaired, and replaced turbine engines on Army helicopters.

How did you get started at Norfolk Southern, and what drew you to the company?
The employer I was working for at the time was talking about having a lay-off and an acquaintance of my in-laws told me about an upcoming hiring session. The only thing I really knew about the company / railroad at the time is how everyone always talked about how good a job it is.

Tell us about your current role at NS.
Supervisor of Scale Inspections; responsible for overseeing the condition, compliance, and safe operation of scales and scale test equipment. Ensuring the scales are operating properly, compliant with federal and company standards, and inspection / record-keeping is being done.

How do your military skills or experiences help you succeed in your current role?
With deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan plus numerous stateside training missions have helped me sharpen these skills — attention to detail, time management, the ability to lead a group towards a common goal and the ability to work in austere environments which have all prepared me for my current and previous roles at Norfolk Southern.

What was your job in the military, in civilian-friendly terms?
My primary job as a Combat Engineer was to use high explosives to divert or destroy enemy targets. Another job for Combat Engineers was to assemble two types of bridges, both the IRB (Improved Ribbon Bridge) and the MGB (Medium Girder Bridge). The IRB is a bridge loaded on specially outfitted trucks and backed into a body of water and dropped from a vehicle where it would float and open. Several of these would be dropped, and boats would assemble them together to essentially make a floating bridge. The MGB is like Legos. You assemble the small pieces together over a gap to create a bridge.

How did you get started at Norfolk Southern, and what drew you to the company?
I was drawn to Norfolk Southern through family; my father, grandfather, uncle, and great uncle worked for Conrail, Norfolk Western and Norfolk Southern.

Tell us about your current role at NS.
My current role at Norfolk Southern is Supervisor of Bridge Inspections. I operate an under-bridge inspection vehicle to inspect areas on bridges that are difficult to reach.

How do your military skills or experiences help you succeed in your current role?
The skills and experiences that I brought from my years of service would be leadership and the ability to adapt to a changing environment.

What was your job in the military, in civilian-friendly terms?
In the military I worked as a Reconnaissance Specialist trained to engage the enemy using real time intelligence.  

How did you get started at Norfolk Southern, and what drew you to the company?
I moved from CPKC over to Norfolk Southern. I dealt a lot with Norfolk Southern trains, and it brought me over. Norfolk Southern has a rich history, and I wanted to be a part of it.  

Tell us about your current role at NS.
I am a Management Trainee - Mechanical.

How do your military skills or experiences help you succeed in your current role?
The military skills help with an environment like the railroad. Aspects from the military like structure, rules, regulations, and safety have all helped me at Norfolk Southern.

What was your job in the military, in civilian-friendly terms?
I served in the U.S. Army as a Combat Infantry Team Leader with the 101st Airborne Division. My time in service took me from Fort Benning, Georgia, to more than a dozen locations, from the cold arctic of Alaska to the hot streets of Fallujah, Iraq. I led a small team through complex missions where every decision mattered, not just for the mission but for the people beside me. It taught me the value of teamwork, adaptability, and staying calm under pressure.

How did you get started at Norfolk Southern, and what drew you to the company?
I joined NS after a fellow veteran and former co-worker encouraged me to consider the company. He believed my background in Operational Technology (OT), Cybersecurity, and Leadership would be a strong fit for NS’s mission. After learning more about the opportunities here, I knew I could make a meaningful impact. Today I have the privilege of protecting the critical systems that keep our trains, and when called upon, our nation’s troops moving.

How do your military skills or experiences help you succeed in your current role?
The military prepared me to lead under pressure, adapt quickly, and make critical decisions with confidence. Those skills directly apply to OT Cybersecurity, where challenges often come without warning, and the stakes are high. My experience has taught me to be strategic, decisive, and focused on building strong, trusted teams because teamwork is the difference between success and failure.

What was your job in the military, in civilian-friendly terms?
I served primarily as a Cook. Attached to other units, I was able to learn other skills from various jobs in the military.

How did you get started at Norfolk Southern, and what drew you to the company?
Once I retired from the military in March 2025, a buddy of mine who I deployed with talked to me about a position with Norfolk Southern. We talked about the Management Trainee position in the transportation department. He explained that the position would be similar to my position in the Army.

Tell us about your current role at NS.
My current role with Norfolk Southern is as a Management Trainee. I am training to be a Terminal Supervisor or Road Manager. During the training process, I traveled to many locations to learn operational skills that will make me a valuable team member to my counterparts, the crew, and my division.

How do your military skills or experiences help you succeed in your current role?
Over my 15 years of service, the experiences allowed me to learn from my mistakes and become a better leader. From the combat environments to state-side missions, they have helped shape who I am today. The accomplishments and setbacks allow me to be an asset to the people I supervise daily. Being able to relate, build, and maintain a healthy work environment safely improves efficiency. Keeping focus on the overall goal.

What was your job in the military, in civilian-friendly terms?
Military Police Officer

How did you get started at Norfolk Southern, and what drew you to the company?
I was getting close to retirement and knew that I was not interested in civilian law enforcement. I went on Military.com and searched for jobs where I found Norfolk Southern. I did some research on the job and benefits and liked what I saw. I applied and was hired as an Operations Supervisor Trainee.

Tell us about your current role at NS.
I oversee three supervisors and four yardmasters. I spend time with our crews making sure that they are performing their duties in a safe and efficient manner while complying with the rules. I also ensure our inbound trains are being switched in a timely manner to make it to our customers.

How do your military skills or experiences help you succeed in your current role?
The Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage go hand-in-hand with the SPIRIT values at NS. The military taught me to always do the right thing regardless of the challenges you may be facing. The same thing goes along with working for NS. Having dealt with a lot of people from various backgrounds in the military gives me the ability to relate to our employees on both personal and professional levels.

As part of our unwavering commitment to supporting veterans throughout the year, NS is honored to be recognized as a Military Friendly® company and to be named to the 2025 Military Times Best for Vets: Employers list.