Photo by Victoria Pickering

Beginning August 1, Metro will have a new Chief Operating Officer. WMATA has hired Joseph Leader to steer the system’s rail, bus, and paratransit services, Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld announced today. He’ll also provide management over Metro Transit Police, parking, and support services.

Much of Leader’s history in transportation includes several years with New York City Transit where he helped to restore transit service after Superstorm Sandy devastated the city.

In his most recent job at Bianco Associates, Leader consulted with Wiedefeld on a Metrorail management project. This experience gave the general manager a chance to learn Leader’s approach to handling safety, culture, and customer service issues, “which are consistent with the way I want Metro to conduct itself moving forward,” Wiedefeld said in a Metro release.

Leader is the second high level official to join Metro with significant experience in NYC. Metro’s new chief safety officer, Patrick Lavin, was hired away from New York City Transit in April. Earlier this month, Wiedefeld also announced the hiring of Laura Mason, who will oversee the system’s yearlong SafeTrack plan that’s now in its second surge.