WASHINGTON
– Amtrak Board of Directors today appointed Kevin Winters as the new Amtrak inspector general, effective immediately. He
succeeds Tom Howard, who will retire after four decades of experience in senior
federal accountability positions.
Winters has served as Deputy Inspector
General and Counsel since 2015, after serving for ten years as a senior
executive with NASA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG).
“Kevin is a highly respected leader in
the Inspector General community and has a strong knowledge of Amtrak’s business
operations and critical mission,” said Amtrak Board Chairman Tony Coscia. “He
also has the integrity and objectivity required for this independent role.”
Before joining the OIG community,
Winters had a career with the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a
Brigadier General. Originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Winters earned a
B.S.C. and a law degree from the University of Louisville, and a Masters in Law
from the University of Virginia.
Howard announced his retirement plans to
Amtrak’s Board of Directors in November. He joined the OIG in 2010 as Deputy
Inspector General and has served as the Amtrak Inspector
General for the past five years.
During his tenure, Howard spearheaded a
reorganization of the OIG that cemented its independence and refocused efforts
on becoming a model OIG by providing objective products that addressed
high-impact issues faced by Amtrak.
“Tom has provided nothing but honorable and
productive service during his time as inspector general, and we wish him the
best of luck as he transitions to this exciting phase in his life,” said
Coscia. “Tom has left a lasting, positive mark on Amtrak’s Office of Inspector
General and I’ve greatly valued his objectivity in providing unvarnished
assessments of the company’s programs and operations.”