METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

People Movement: New NTSB Vice Chair, HDR, and More

METRO’s People Movement highlights the latest leadership changes, promotions, and personnel news across the public transit, motorcoach, and people mobility sectors.

April 17, 2026
People Movement for April, 17, 2026

In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at All Aboard America Holdings, WSP, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.

Credit:

AAAHI, NTSB, WSP, and METRO

4 min to read


  • METRO’s People Movement section provides updates on leadership changes in the public transit and mobility sectors.
  • Recent highlights include new appointments and promotions such as the new Vice Chair at the NTSB.
  • Personnel movements also include key changes at HDR and other organizations in the industry.

*Summarized by AI

METRO’s People Movement highlights the latest leadership changes, promotions, and personnel news across the public transit, motorcoach, and people mobility sectors.

In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at All Aboard America Holdings, WSP, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.

Ad Loading...

Graham Named Vice Chairman at NTSB

Michael Graham, the 45th member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), was designated to serve as NTSB vice chairman for a three-year term.

Before joining the NTSB, Graham served as director of flight operations safety, security, and standardization at Textron Aviation, where he oversaw the company’s safety management system, emergency response planning, air safety investigations, and airport operations.

During his tenure on the Board, Graham served as the member on scene for several major accident investigations, including the May 2025 accident involving a Mexican naval vessel striking the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City; the February 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio; the November 2022 Wings Over Dallas midair collision; and the October 2021 MD-87 runway excursion in Brookshire, Texas.

Graham has also been a dedicated advocate for advancing connected vehicle technology and reducing distracted driving on the nation’s roads. A pilot by background, he has also played a key role in supporting the NTSB’s efforts to implement flight data monitoring recommendations and to promote the broader adoption of safety management systems (SMS) across all modes of transportation.

Before his NTSB service, Graham also served as chairman of the Air Charter Safety Foundation and contributed to safety working groups within the National Business Aviation Association.

Ad Loading...

All Aboard America Holdings Fortifies Leadership Team

All Aboard America Holdings (AAAHI), the second-largest motorcoach operator in the US and a subsidiary of Kelsian Group, has strengthened its executive leadership team as the company gears up for its next phase of growth.

The leadership structure is anchored by the April 2025 appointment of Brent Maitland as CEO of AAAHI, bringing extensive international transport leadership experience to the role as the business continues to expand its multi-brand operations across the US.

Further strengthening the leadership team, Hany Yared has recently been promoted to chief financial officer, reinforcing the company’s commitment to strong financial governance as it scales its operations.

The executive team is also being complemented by the appointment of Trisha Fridrich as VP, commercial operations, a newly created role designed to integrate key commercial functions across the organization.

In this role, Fridrich will bring together marketing, sales operations, deal governance, pricing strategy, and contract lifecycle management into a single enterprise-wide commercial function.

Ad Loading...

As part of her responsibilities, Fridrich will also lead commercial due diligence for mergers and acquisitions and serve as a key contact point for business owners exploring partnership or acquisition opportunities with the business.

Buckley Rejoins WSP as National Planning Leader

WSP in the US is welcoming Stephen M. Buckley, PE, as its national planning leader.

Based in Philadelphia, Buckley rejoins WSP to direct its nationwide transportation, urban, land-use, and environmental planning practice, which comprises professionals who guide strategy, manage and deliver projects, and develop new business opportunities.

As part of WSP’s Advisory and Planning leadership team, Buckley works closely with region executives, business line leaders, operations, and strategic pursuit teams.

Buckley brings more than three decades of experience in transportation and infrastructure planning and leadership. He most recently served as vice president for planning and advisory services at a US planning and design firm, where he helped grow the planning practice in the Northeast and supported major transportation technology, transit, freight, and automated vehicle initiatives.

Ad Loading...

Sheehan to Lead HDR’s Global Highways and Roads Program

After more than two decades in public transportation leadership roles, Victoria Sheehan has joined HDR to lead the firm’s global highways and roads program.

As the highways and roads director, Sheehan will set the vision and direction for continued growth and delivery of HDR’s expansive highway program.

Based in Washington, D.C., she will be responsible for more than 3,500 global employees who provide a diversified portfolio of services tailored to the needs of departments of transportation, toll facilities, municipalities, and other roadway infrastructure owners worldwide. The professionals assist highway and road clients with navigating funding and stakeholder engagement, managing program development and design, and providing construction management.

Sheehan joins HDR from the Transportation Research Board (TRB), one of the four research centers of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, where she served as executive director.

Before her work at TRB, she led the New Hampshire Department of Transportation for seven years, preceded by 10 years at the Massachusetts DOT. She also served as president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials from 2020 to 2021.

Quick Answers

People Movement is a feature by METRO that highlights the latest leadership changes, promotions, and personnel news in the public transit, motorcoach, and people mobility sectors.

*Summarized by AI

Ad Loading...

More Management

New MobilityJune 5, 2026

Joshua Schank on Transportation Innovation, Risk, and the Future of Mobility

In this edition of METROspectives, Joshua Schank discusses lessons from launching LA Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation, the challenges of advancing new mobility technologies, and much more.

Read More →
A maintenance person with a tablet.
ManagementJune 5, 2026

Reinventing Fleet Maintenance with Real-time Visibility and AI

Transit leaders need to know what needs fixing, where to look, who is responsible, when work is completed, and what it costs without having to chase information across disconnected systems.

Read More →
Alstom purchasing site for Acela network manufacturing
Railby StaffJune 4, 2026

Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet

The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
SamTrans planning for ballot measure
Managementby StaffJune 4, 2026

SamTrans Sets Priorities for Potential Connect Bay Area Revenue

The board-approved framework allocates future funding to maintaining service, rider improvements, equity initiatives, and infrastructure repairs.

Read More →
Riders in MARTA bus station
Security and Safetyby StaffJune 4, 2026

Federal Transit Officials Launch MARTA Safety Probe

FTA has given MARTA 15 days to provide records on crime prevention, fare evasion enforcement, and security funding as part of a broader safety investigation.

Read More →
ABA testifies for federal bus regulations

ABA's Ferguson Testifies in Support of BUS Act, National Standards for Bus Operators

The BUSES Act would create a nationwide framework preventing state and local governments from enforcing bus idling restrictions of less than 15 minutes, a threshold consistent with existing Environmental Protection Agency guidance.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
World Cup Crowds Will Test Transit Systems
ManagementJune 3, 2026

When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.

Read More →
Jacksonville Transportation Authority America250 bus and transit van.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseJune 3, 2026

Florida’s JTA Puts Innovation in Motion Ahead of America250

The agency unveiled a commemorative America250 bus during a visit from U.S. DOT's Seval Oz and showcased its autonomous mobility programs.

Read More →
A rendering of a California High-Speed Rail vehicle
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract

The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Technologyby StaffJune 2, 2026

IndyGo, Cleveland RTA Expand Digital Fare Payment Options with Masabi

The new systems combine mobile apps, smart cards, and automatic fare capping to simplify payments, expand flexibility, and help riders access the lowest available fares.

Read More →