Vincent G. Verna
Director of Regulatory Affairs
verna@ble-t.org
(202) 624-8776
Vincent G. Verna serves the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen as Director of Regulatory Affairs. He works out of the BLET's National
Legislative Office in Washington, D.C., and was first appointed to the position by National President Dennis R. Pierce effective August 1, 2011.
In his role as Director of Regulatory Affairs, Verna represents the BLET on numerous collaborative endeavors, such as the Rail Safety Advisory Committee
(RSAC) with the Federal Railroad Administration. He also represents the interests of BLET members in all regulatory matters, including those before the
Department of Transportation, National Mediation Board, National Transportation Safety Board and the Transportation Security Administration, among others.
He also prepares the union's responses to various agencies' proposals for rulemakings and proposed rules, and prepares responses to petitions for waiver
from compliance with FRA regulations.
Brother Verna joined BLET Division 28 (Tucson, Ariz.) on November 17, 1995. Immediately prior to his appointment, Brother Verna served as Local Chairman of
Division 28 and Chairman of the Arizona State Legislative Board. He hired out in 1994 as a brakeman for the Southern Pacific Railroad in Los Angeles,
Calif., transferring to engine service in March of 1995 in Tste ucson, Ariz.
He became actively involved in the Brotherhood almost immediately, serving as Alternate Legislative Representative of Division 28 in 1995, and as Vice
Local Chairman in 1999. He continued in both positions until becoming Division 28's Legislative Representative in 2006 and full-time Local Chairman in
2008. He was reelected Local Chairman in 2009. Brother Verna also began serving as Chairman of the Arizona State Legislative Board in 2008, a position he
was reelected to in 2009.
Since 2006, Brother Verna has been active on the RSAC Locomotive Standards and Operating Practices Working Groups. He has worked with past Regulatory
Affairs Directors Bob Harvey, Tom Pontolillo and Steve Bruno to help formulate regulatory positions that address the needs of BLET members.
In August 2008, he gave a presentation to the Locomotive Standards Working Group to address extreme cab temperatures inside the locomotive cab.
Brother Verna is proud to be a third generation railroader. His father Fred retired as a conductor from UP in 2010 after 48 years of service. Also, his
great uncle was a conductor for the Penn Central and Southern Pacific.
He holds a Bachelors Degree in History from California State University at San Bernardino (1994) and a Master's Degree in Legal and Ethical Studies from
The University of Baltimore (2003).
Brother Verna and his wife, Julie, reside in the Washington D.C. area. When he has spare time, he enjoys reading, art, exercising, writing and recording
music and traveling.
