National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
Vice President, Corporate Security and Chief of Police
Washington, D.C.
A national search is underway to recruit an accomplished, forward-looking, and nationally respected public safety executive to serve as Amtrak’s next Vice President, Corporate Security and Chief of Police. This exceptional leadership opportunity places the successful candidate at the forefront of protecting one of the nation’s most critical transportation networks while advancing enterprise resilience, public trust, operational readiness, and organizational performance.
Amtrak is America’s national intercity passenger rail provider, connecting communities, economic centers, and transportation corridors across 46 states, the District of Columbia, and three Canadian provinces. Serving more than 30 million customers annually through more than 500 destinations and more than 21,400 route miles, Amtrak plays a vital role in national mobility, regional connectivity, tourism, economic activity, and emergency preparedness.
The Amtrak Police Department (APD) is a nationally recognized transportation law enforcement agency responsible for protecting passengers, employees, facilities, rights-of-way, trains, and critical infrastructure throughout the United States. APD includes approximately 500 sworn and professional staff assigned across more than 30 locations nationwide and operates through six geographic divisions with extensive federal, state, local, rail, and transit law enforcement partnerships.
Under executive direction, the Vice President, Corporate Security and Chief of Police serves as a key member of Amtrak’s executive leadership team and the organization’s principal advisor on public safety, security strategy, enterprise risk, emergency preparedness, and organizational resilience. The position leads the Amtrak Police Department and Corporate Security function, including policy direction, workforce planning, deployment strategy, resource allocation, fiscal stewardship, leadership development, and operational performance.
The next leader will strengthen APD’s strategic direction, readiness, and service culture while ensuring that policing and security strategies align with Amtrak’s business objectives, operational priorities, and commitment to a safe and positive customer experience. Key priorities include protecting people and assets, enhancing readiness for evolving threats, supporting counterterrorism and emergency preparedness, optimizing staffing and deployment, advancing intelligence-led and data-informed policing, and building trusted partnerships across Amtrak’s national network.
The ideal candidate will bring a distinguished record of executive leadership in complex law enforcement, transportation security, federal, municipal, or similarly high-visibility public safety organizations. The successful candidate will be a trusted advisor, effective communicator, and collaborative leader with the executive presence, political acumen, operational credibility, and relationship-building skills required to balance security, deterrence, customer experience, employee well-being, operational efficiency, and public trust.
Minimum Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience, and twenty years of direct municipal, transportation, federal, or other relevant law enforcement experience.
- Ability to serve as a commissioned police officer or obtain a railroad police commission in the state of residence or state of employment.
- Broad knowledge of law, public administration, management, police training, constitutional law, and law enforcement practices.
- Demonstrated knowledge of counterterrorism activities, criminal laws, codes and ordinances, court interpretations, rights of citizens, apprehension, arrest, search and seizure, and rules of evidence.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, advanced program management and administrative skills, and the ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with federal agencies, city officials, employees, state and local law enforcement agencies, transportation partners, and the public.
Preferred Qualifications
- Ten or more years of police leadership or command experience and an active SECRET or TOP SECRET security clearance with a relevant federal agency.
- Established working relationships with federal, transportation, rail, transit, and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.
- Experience using Security Management Systems, COMPSTAT systems, data analytics, or related tools to support public safety strategy and deployment.
- Experience leading a large, complex, multi-site, or multi-jurisdictional law enforcement organization, with experience in transportation security, rail security, infrastructure protection, and counterterrorism planning.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $319,800 to $340,400. Compensation is based on several factors, including education, work experience, certifications, internal equity, and related considerations. Amtrak may also offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based on factors such as individual and company performance, commensurate with the level of the position. Amtrak also provides a comprehensive benefits package.
Apply
Public Sector Search & Consulting, Inc. is assisting Amtrak with this confidential recruitment. Applicants should submit a compelling cover letter and comprehensive resume. Candidates are encouraged to apply immediately. Submittals will be accepted until August 7, 2026.
Confidential inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to:
Public Sector Search & Consulting, Inc.
Mr. Gary Peterson, President/CEO
Chief of Police (ret.)
gary@publicsectorsearch.com
(916) 622-5323 cell
(916) 789-9990 office
Amtrak is committed to equal employment opportunity and seeks a broad and highly qualified candidate pool. The successful candidate will be selected based on demonstrated executive leadership, professional experience, operational ability, strategic judgment, communication skills, and commitment to public safety, transportation security, and service to the communities Amtrak serves.
