WASHINGTON – Donna McLean was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) at the November 8, 2007 board meeting. McLean, who was appointed to the Board by President Bush and approved by the Senate in July 2006, had served as Vice Chairman of the Board. She replaces former Chairman David M. Laney, who remains a board member until his term expires in late November 2007.

As Chairman of the Board, McLean will lead the board of Amtrak, the nation's intercity passenger railroad, which operates in 46 states on a 21,000-mile system serving more than 500 stations. A former official at the U.S. Department of Transportation, she is owner of Donna McLean Associates, LLC, a Washington, DC-based consulting firm specializing in transportation policy.

McLean praised the stewardship of former Chairman Laney, saying, "David was an activist board member and Chairman who was keenly interested in improving Amtrak's business model, accountability and service. He was very successful in all those areas, and thanks in large part to his efforts, Amtrak's relevance in the national transportation mix has never been stronger, with record ridership and revenues being achieved for the last several fiscal years."

Prior to forming Donna McLean Associates, McLean was Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Offier of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). She had also served at the DOT as the Assistant Administrator for Financial Services at the Federal Aviation Administration beginning in 1999. From 1993 to 1999, McLean was a professional staff member of the Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives.

McLean earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science and holds a master's degree of public affairs, both from Indiana University.