Pat Vail serves as Chief Operating Officer for TRM NRE, a global leader in the rail, marine, and power industries headquartered in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. With more than 20 years of operational and strategic leadership experience, Pat is focused on driving innovation, operational excellence, customer service, and long-term growth across the organization.
Prior to joining TRM NRE, Pat held senior leadership positions with Canadian National Railway and BNSF Railway, where he successfully led large-scale operational improvement initiatives, workforce development programs, and cross-functional teams across North America. Known for his hands-on leadership style and forward-thinking approach, Pat has built a career centered around improving performance, developing strong teams, and implementing sustainable process improvements that support both customers and business objectives.
Pat brings extensive experience in Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma methodologies, operational strategy, and continuous improvement, helping organizations improve efficiency, strengthen reliability, and deliver industry-leading service.
Pat earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Colorado State University Global Campus and holds Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt certifications from Purdue University. He also proudly served in the United States Army as a Combat Medic.
