BIOGRAPHY
Chris DeLargy’s extensive railroad knowledge and experience complements the Columbia Group’s depth and breadth of rail industry expertise. His over 30-year career at BNSF Railway includes prominent leadership roles in Operations, Safety, and Customer Service. Chris joined the railroad as a Train Dispactcher, where he learned each dispatching position along the “Southern Transcon,” between Chicago and Los Angeles, in one year’s time. His other management roles included developing successful strategic planning and daily execution of locomotive utilization, and leading railroad operations teams in the field as Trainmaster, Terminal Manager, and Terminal Superintendent. In these roles, he worked closely with customers in six West Coast ports, five major grain terminals, and intermodal and automotive facilities.
Throughout his career, Chris has had extensive experience in port and terminal expansions, and Public/Private Partnerships resulting in growth and efficiencies for passenger and freight service. As a result of his excellence in daily execution and innovation, he has an impressive track record in helping customers gain valuable ground in competitive markets.
Chris’s successful leadership style is grounded in an innate ability to help others reach their potential. Over decades, his approach has helped create many strong leaders in the rail industry, and an impressive network of railroad colleagues across many departments and disciplines.
Chris has received many commendations and accolades for his railroad expertise—including being a five-time recipient of “Employee of the Year.” He also has the distinction of serving as a US Naval Officer and graduate of the United States Naval Academy.
TRACK RECORD HIGHLIGHTS
- Key leader of the tactical team for the Port of Vancouver’s $300 million West Freight Vancouver Access project. He was instrumental in the design and execution of this port expansion project, which includes new main line access, new full length unit train tracks for bulk commodity customers, and support yards to sustain the flow and business for all port customers.
- Instrumental in the development and design of unit train landing tracks and support yards for Port of Portland customer growth. This has greatly enhanced the flow of rail traffic and related logistics for many port customers.
- Strategic leader in the five-year, $600 million Washington State DOT passenger service upgrades, from the Oregon to Canadian borders. This included new sidings and higher speed turnouts to keep freight and passenger service moving along the same corridor.
- As Terminal Superintendent, Chris’s leadership was instrumental in receiving the 2023 “Safety Bell Award,” for best in safety on BNSF’s Northwest Division.