The MBTA has named Rod Brooks, a rail veteran with 32 years of experience, as its new senior advisor for capital, operations and safety.
Brooks most recently served as senior vice president of operations at the Long Island Rail Road in New York, where he has held other leadership positions as chief transportation officer and executive director of East Side Access operations. He has spearheaded organizational efforts, navigated significant safety challenges and developed programs recognized industry-wide.
A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Brooks began his transit career as an entry-level assistant railroad signalman before ascending into higher-level roles.
“I look forward to joining the MBTA and being back in public service with a great deal of professional pride,” Brooks said. “I am happy to assist General Manager and CEO Phil Eng, who I had the privilege of working with previously, and his team as they work to improve the safety, reliability and performance of the system through Capital Program initiatives. I am hopeful that my experience and background add value to all facets of the organization where I might be of use and I am looking forward to getting to work.”
His appointment was one of four to senior positions and six redeployments the T announced July 27.
“We have added significant combined decades of transportation experience to the team, and it is important to note that I also believe deeply in the team that we have already at the T,” Eng said. “Each of the new hires and internal role changes has a wealth of experience and expertise in multimodal public transportation that I am pleased to see deployed at the T in order to deliver on our commitment to our riders.”
In addition to further executive education at Columbia Business School, Brooks completed a master’s in human resources from SUNY-Stony Brook University and a bachelor’s in business management and economics from SUNY-Empire State University.
Brooks also serves in volunteer roles on the Bluffton, South Carolina Rotary Club Board of Directors and the Royal Live Oak Academy Charter School Board of Directors in Jasper County, South Carolina.
