NS names new VP Mechanical, elects new board member

Written by jrood

Donald Graab has been named vice president mechanical for Norfolk Southern Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., effective March 1. He will be responsible for maintenance and repair of the railroad's motive power and rolling stock. Graab succeeds Tim Heilig, who has retired after 41 years with Norfolk Southern.

Graab began his railroad career in 1975 as a management trainee in the mechanical department of Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. He joined Norfolk and Western Railway Company (a Norfolk Southern predecessor) in 1978 as a training instructor and advanced through a number of positions in the mechanical department and was named assistant vice president mechanical in 2007.

Heilig, a graduate of Georgia Tech, joined Southern Railway Company (a Norfolk Southern predecessor) in 1971 and served in management information, intermodal, engineering, mechanical and transportation positions before being named vice president mechanical in 2006.

“Tim Heilig’s leadership of the mechanical department enabled Norfolk Southern to achieve remarkable technological progress and efficiencies in our rolling stock fleet,” said Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman. “We’re grateful for his decades of outstanding service and we wish him well.”

In other NS news, Wes Bush has been elected a director of Norfolk Southern Corporation.

Bush, of McLean, Va., is chairman, chief executive officer and president of Northrop Grumman Corporation, a global aerospace and defense technology company. He previously was chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Northrop Grumman.

Bush has been appointed to the compensation and finance committees of the Norfolk Southern board.

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