Pardini Joins Gannett Fleming to Lead Rail Electrification Solutions
Electrified rail facility expert Joanna Pardini, PE, is responsible for driving freight and passenger rail electrification growth in the Northeast U.S. in her new role with Gannett Fleming.
Pardini brings nearly 15 years of experience specializing in electrified railroad facilities. Most recently, she served as deputy chief engineer for electric traction (ET) engineering at Amtrak, where she oversaw the team spearheading cost-effective transformative initiatives that enhance safety, consistency, and operational efficiency across rail operations. She led the ET Transformation project, a comprehensive corrective action campaign that significantly improved operational safety and reliability.
Throughout her career at Amtrak, Pardini specialized in electrified railroad facility design, construction, maintenance, and operation. Her technical expertise and leadership in catenary design and electrical engineering have contributed to significant infrastructure improvements, innovative ways to achieve decarbonization goals, and decreased operating costs within the Northeast Corridor.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joanna to our team. She brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in managing rail transportation infrastructure operations and capital projects, which will be invaluable as we expand and innovate our rail services,” said Executive Vice President and Executive Director, Transit & Rail, Andrew “Andy” Gillespie, PE, PEng. “Her expertise enhances our rail project delivery capabilities and strengthens our commitment to transportation sustainability and efficiency. Joanna’s leadership and strategic vision are exactly what we need to continue driving our goals forward and delivering added value for our transit and rail clients. We are confident her contributions will further establish Gannett Fleming as an industry leader in rail transportation.”
Pardini’s strategic and proactive management approach to technical compliance and safety, including establishing electrician annual qualifications procedures, underscores her dedication to long-term industry-leading practices. Her experience leading the coordination of training, safety initiatives, and union labor issues highlights her ability to foster productive relationships and drive consensus.
“I have worked alongside Gannett Fleming for many years, and I’ve always had positive experiences,” said Pardini. “I am excited to be a part of the team, help clients in their electrification journeys, improve their enterprise efficiency, and implement solutions to operational running costs concerns. Gannett Fleming’s dedication to creating innovative, environmentally responsible resolutions resonates deeply with me. I look forward to contributing my expertise to developing cutting-edge rail electrification solutions.”
Pardini holds a Bachelor of Science in civil and environmental engineering from Villanova University. She is an active member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, where she serves as the chair of Committee 33 – Electrical Energy Utilization in the passenger and transit functional group. She is also active with the National Electric Safety Code standards program, assisting the Subcommittee 4, Overhead Lines-Clearances.
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