NEWARK, N.J. — Former Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner has joined financial consulting firm Telos Advisors, which describes itself as specializing in complex transportation and infrastructure projects.
Gardner will join the company’s strategic advisory board, the company announced on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
“Stephen is a seasoned transportation expert with deep experience in railroading and federal transportation policy who has managed complex organizations and led one of the largest capital programs in the United States,” Telos co-founders Eric Daleo and Megan Strickland said in a press release. “We’re excited to welcome him to Telos and to leverage his expertise as we continue to support clients navigating critical infrastructure and investment initiatives.”
Gardner joined Amtrak in 2009 and was named the company’s president in 2020. He became both president and CEO in January 2022 [see “Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn to retire,” Trains.com, Dec. 15, 2021]. The jobs were split again when Roger Harris was named president in June 2023, before Gardner resigned in May 2025, reportedly at the request of the Trump administration [see “Amtrak CEO Gardner resigns,” May 19, 2025]. Harris has since led the company as president.
Prior to his time with Amtrak, Gardner spent almost a decade on Capitol Hill working on transportation policy
Telos says Gardner will focus on rail and transit policy, funding strategy, customer experience and service planning, safety, and network development.
“I’m excited to join Telos’s Advisory Board and the committed group of seasoned transportation leaders and experts they’ve gathered to help clients take on challenging projects and achieve major goals,” Gardner said. “In an increasingly complex landscape, Telos has the know-how and unique capacity to support clients through rapid change, major transactions, and game-changing deals.”
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