Stephen J. Gardner

Chief Executive Officer

The Amtrak Board of Directors appointed Stephen J. Gardner as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 17, 2022. He is the thirteenth executive to lead America’s Railroad. 

Drawing on two decades of railroad industry and transportation policy experience, Stephen guides Amtrak as the company recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and enters a transformational era of modernization, service expansion and growth. Under Stephen’s leadership, Amtrak is focused on improving services for customers today while rebuilding infrastructure, acquiring modern trains and enhancing stations in order to bring more train service to more people around the nation. 

Additionally, Stephen and the Executive Leadership Team continue to focus on Amtrak priorities including implementing the company’s industry-leading Safety Management System, expanding diversity, inclusion and belonging efforts, expanding accessibility to Amtrak’s network, adopting innovative technology and driving sustainability and rail’s role in addressing the crisis of global climate change.

Stephen had served as President since December 2020. In this role, he led the company’s day-to-day operations, with an emphasis on regaining customers following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening key relationships with states and other partners through the strong delivery of Amtrak’s Annual Operating Plan and long-term goals. Responsible for modernizing Amtrak’s products, services, infrastructure and fleet, he had oversight of Marketing, Operations, Planning and Asset Development, and Government Affairs and Corporate Communications.

Stephen previously served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Commercial Officer from May 2019 through November 2020 along with several prior executive positions with the company, beginning in 2009.

Prior to Amtrak, Stephen worked as a senior staffer for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and several Senate and House of Representatives offices on transportation matters.

Early in his transportation career, Stephen held operating and managerial positions with Guilford Rail System’s Maine Central Railroad in Maine and Massachusetts and the Buckingham Branch Railroad in Virginia.

Stephen received his Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, and lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

Chief Executive Officer

The Amtrak Board of Directors appointed Stephen J. Gardner as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 17, 2022. He is the thirteenth executive to lead America’s Railroad. 

Drawing on two decades of railroad industry and transportation policy experience, Stephen guides Amtrak as the company recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and enters a transformational era of modernization, service expansion and growth. Under Stephen’s leadership, Amtrak is focused on improving services for customers today while rebuilding infrastructure, acquiring modern trains and enhancing stations in order to bring more train service to more people around the nation. 

Additionally, Stephen and the Executive Leadership Team continue to focus on Amtrak priorities including implementing the company’s industry-leading Safety Management System, expanding diversity, inclusion and belonging efforts, expanding accessibility to Amtrak’s network, adopting innovative technology and driving sustainability and rail’s role in addressing the crisis of global climate change.

Stephen had served as President since December 2020. In this role, he led the company’s day-to-day operations, with an emphasis on regaining customers following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening key relationships with states and other partners through the strong delivery of Amtrak’s Annual Operating Plan and long-term goals. Responsible for modernizing Amtrak’s products, services, infrastructure and fleet, he had oversight of Marketing, Operations, Planning and Asset Development, and Government Affairs and Corporate Communications.

Stephen previously served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Commercial Officer from May 2019 through November 2020 along with several prior executive positions with the company, beginning in 2009.

Prior to Amtrak, Stephen worked as a senior staffer for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and several Senate and House of Representatives offices on transportation matters.

Early in his transportation career, Stephen held operating and managerial positions with Guilford Rail System’s Maine Central Railroad in Maine and Massachusetts and the Buckingham Branch Railroad in Virginia.

Stephen received his Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, and lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two children.