Karen Hedlund
American lawyer
Karen Jean Hedlund | |
|---|---|
 Karen Hedlund in 2015 | |
| Member of the Surface Transportation Board | |
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2022 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Personal details | |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
Karen Jean Hedlund is an American attorney and governmental advisor who has served as a member of the Surface Transportation Board since January 2022.
Early life and education
Hedlund has an Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center.[1]
Career
Hedlund has an extensive background in overseeing infrastructure projects across various fields in the United States; she was a legal advisor at different levels of government. She served as Chief Counsel in both the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Railroad Administration while also being the Deputy Administrator at the latter.
Hedlund was a partner at Nossaman LLP, specializing in public-private partnerships as they affect the government.
Currently, Hedlund is involved with the Northeast Corridor Gateway Program and a proposed rail project that connects cities in the Pacific Northwest.
Surface Transportation Board
On April 28, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Hedlund to be a member of the Surface Transportation Board.[2] Hearings were held before the Senate Commerce Committee on the nomination on June 24, 2021. The committee favorably her nomination to the Senate floor on August 4, 2021. A hold was placed on her nomination by Senator Mike Lee until the Surface Transportation Board approved a railway project he supported in the Uinta Basin, which Lee apparently expected Hedlund to oppose.[3][4] The Board approved the project on December 15, 2021, and Hedlund was confirmed by the entire Senate on December 16, 2021, via voice vote.[3][5]
Hedlund assumed office on January 3, 2022.[6]
Personal life
Hedlund currently lives in Edwards, Colorado.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ Luczak, Marybeth (January 4, 2022). "Hedlund Joins STB". Railway Age. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ "President Biden Announces 16 Key Administration Nominations". The White House. April 28, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ^ a b Mencimer, Stephanie (May 2, 2022). "An Oil Train Is Set to Destroy Pristine Utah Mountains. Why Won't Biden Stop It?". Mother Jones.
- ^ Wilner, Frank (October 6, 2021). "STB Nominee Still Mired in Limbo (UPDATED OCTOBER 6)". Railway Age.
- ^ "PN535 — Karen Jean Hedlund — Surface Transportation Board 117th Congress (2021-2022)". US Congress. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ^ "Karen Hedlund Sworn in as New Member of the Surface Transportation Board". Surface Transportation Board. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
