Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 2, 2008

Ronald Keele appointed Metro's chief safety officer

Ronald Keele has been appointed Chief Safety Officer for Metro to lead the agency’s efforts to become the safest transit agency in the nation. He begins his new role immediately.

Keele will oversee Metro’s Department of System Safety and Risk Management, which includes passenger, vehicle safety, environmental safety and health, safety training, as well as the worker’s compensation office.

“Ron Keele has the knowledge and know-how to improve Metro’s safety performance and help make it the safest transit agency in the nation for our customers and employees,” said Metro Assistant General Manager for Safety, Security and Emergency Management Polly Hanson.

Keele has more than 20 years of experience in the safety field, with 14 years in mass transit safety. Most recently, he was the executive director of safety, quality assurance and risk management for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), where he managed the investigation of all accidents involving fatalities or serious injures, reported unsafe acts, unacceptable hazardous conditions, derailments and collisions. He also managed the system safety design review of all of MTA’s new facilities and equipment, system safety certification, fire protection engineering and fire life safety code requirements. Keele also worked as the system safety manager of space shuttle operations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and previously served as the director of passenger, vehicle, fire life safety and emergency management at Metro.

Keele earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a master’s degree in business administration from the George Washington University and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Maryland. He is a registered professional engineer and certified safety professional.

News release issued at 12:00 am, January 2, 2008.