David L. Gunn

David L. Gunn (born June 21, 1937) is a transportation system administrator who has headed several significant railroads and transit systems in North America. He was director of operations of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) from 1975 to 1979, general manager and chief operations officer of SEPTA from 1979 to 1984, president of the New York City Transit Authority from 1984 to 1990, the general manager at WMATA (the Washington Metro) from 1991 to 1994, and chief general manager of the Toronto Transit Commission in Canada from 1995 to 1999. Gunn assumed the presidency of Amtrak on May 15, 2002, He served in the position for three years. He then joined the New York Central Railroad, serving there from 1967 to 1968. From 1969 to 1974, he served as an assistant vice-president of the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. New York City Transit Authority (1984 to 1990) He was president of New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA), 1984 to 1990, and according to The New York Times, Gunn is credited with turning around the New York City subway system in the late 1980s."

As a reminder of the purchasing issues he overcame, he had a pair of R9 subway car lubricator pads mounted on a plaque in his office. The authority had thousands of them among over $40 million worth of obsolete and excess parts, yet the R9 fleet had been retired since 1977, leaving just a few used on work trains. At the same time, needed parts were not getting purchased.

For his work in New York, he was inducted in the inaugural 1999 class of the New York Public Transit Association's Hall of Fame

WMATA (1991–1994) Gunn served as general manager of Washington DC Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) from 1991 to 1994.

During his tenure at WMATA (the Washington Metro) from 1991 to 1994, Gunn was frequently at odds with that agency's board of directors, which included representatives from the District of Columbia and suburban jurisdictions in Maryland and Virginia.

Toronto Transit Commission (1995 to 1999) From 1995 to 1999, Gunn served as chief general manager of Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). He also argued against new subway construction.

Toronto's only fatal subway train accident, the 1995 Russell Hill subway accident that claimed 3 lives, happened only 8 months after Gunn became head of the TTC, with Gunn addressing the incident in the media.

Amtrak (2002–2005)

Beginning of presidency Gunn assumed the presidency of Amtrak on May 15, 2002, similar to highways, airports, and air traffic control which all require large government expenditures to build and maintain.

Gunn eliminated almost all of the express business while improving critical equipment repair facilities and services to keep trains moving. and his management team implemented Amtrak's first system-wide comprehensive capital program with planned target dates and budgeting. Under Gunn, Amtrak's ranks of unionized and salaried workers were reduced.

During his administration at Amtrak, Gunn was the subject of congressional criticism. Gunn was polite but direct in response to congressional criticism.

Political upheaval and firing He was fired by the board of directors on November 9, 2005, ostensibly for his refusal to split the company in preparation for privatization; He currently sits on the board of a local transit service in rural Richmond County known as the Strait Area Transit Cooperative and in 2010 returned as a consultant for former employer, WMATA. In November 2014, Amtrak named ACS-64 class unit number 600 after Gunn.