NewHire_Hilary Konczal

LOS ANGELES — Metrolink, Southern California’s regional passenger rail provider, has appointed Hilary Konczal as its new chief safety, security and compliance officer, effective immediately. In this critical role, Konczal will also serve as the organization’s compliance officer for Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-mandated initiatives and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), while fostering a proactive safety culture that permeates all levels of the organization.

Konczal joins Metrolink from Chicago’s Metra where he spent more than three decades in progressively senior roles, ultimately ascending to the post of chief regulatory compliance officer, responsible for safeguarding passengers, employees and contractors, as well as overseeing public safety initiatives along Metra’s 487-mile system.  

“Hilary brings nearly 35 years of hands-on rail safety experience accrued through a broad array of positions and perspectives,” Metrolink Chief Executive Officer Darren Kettle said. “Thanks to his background in maintenance and operations, Hilary has seen, firsthand, how employees and contractors at different levels and in different functions interact with potential hazards every day in a working railroad environment. And as a product of Metra, he understands the unique challenges that come with the size and scale of our 545-mile system. Safety is foundational at Metrolink, and we could not be more excited to add Hilary’s voice and expertise to our executive leadership team.”

Among other responsibilities, as chief safety, security and compliance officer, Konczal will spearhead the development, implementation and evaluation of Metrolink’s comprehensive safety programs, ensuring alignment with federal regulations and industry best practices. He will oversee security operations across the system, including risk mitigation strategies and partnerships with contracted law enforcement and private security providers. Konczal will also drive education and outreach, equipping staff and contractors with essential knowledge and tools while strengthening working relationships with community stakeholders and emergency preparedness personnel throughout Southern California.

“Metrolink is in the midst of an exciting period of transformation, but its North Star approach to safety hasn’t and won’t change,” Konczal said. “Following the agency’s largest service expansion in history last fall, prioritizing safety is more important than ever. As Metrolink continues to evolve and grow, I’m honored to lead the safety, security and compliance team into this new era. Together, we will build on the strong culture of safety already in place to ensure Metrolink customers, employees and the communities we serve can always trust in our unwavering commitment to their well-being.”

Before being appointed Metra’s chief regulatory compliance officer, Konczal served as chief safety and environmental compliance officer from 2015-24, and he previously held the roles of mechanical shop laborer, conductor, trainmaster, security administrator and director of safety. He earned World Safety Organization (WSO) safety and security certifications at the technician, manager and director levels. A respected industry leader, Konczal is also a highly regarded associate instructor for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Safety Institute, where he educates colleagues from across the country on FRA system safety regulations and Federal Transit Administration safety management systems.

Konczal sits on the boards of the WSO, the DuPage Railroad Safety Council and Operation Lifesavers’ Illinois Chapter. He is a member of the FRA Railroad Safety Advisory Committee as well as the American Association of Railroads Safety and Operations Committee. From 2016-20, Konczal chaired the American Public Transportation Association’s Commuter Rail Safety and Security Committee. He also previously served on the board of the Illinois Terrorism Task Force.

Click here for a photo of Hilary Konczal.