VIA Metropolitan Transit has named Tremell Brown its deputy CEO.
Brown began his career at VIA in 1990 as a part-time bus operator. He advanced through the Operations Division, having held several leadership positions, including vice president (VP) of transportation, VP of safety, training and system security and chief safety officer.
As deputy CEO, Brown will assist VIA’s President and CEO in oversight of all staff functions and agency operations. He will also directly manage key operating divisions, including Transportation, Maintenance/Fleet and Facilities, Fiscal Management, Human Resources, Technology and Innovation, Safety, Training and System Security (STSS) and Procurement.
“During his tenure at VIA, Tremell has served with distinction and accumulated invaluable experience across the agency,” said VTA President and CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt said. “Just as importantly, he’s built meaningful relationships with people across every department. I’m confident with his service-minded approach, he’ll continue to lean in and push VIA to do great things for our community.”
Brown will continue to serve as chief safety officer and lead VIA’s STSS division, where he helped develop, implement and oversee law enforcement, safety and training development and was installed as the agency’s incident commander for emergency management.
“An advantage I see in this role as deputy CEO is I get a chance to do more of something I enjoy, and that’s just managing relationships, closing the gaps, addressing the issues,” Brown said. “I’ll get to work across the organization to fix issues and challenges. I’m always interested in developing better understanding, and I get a chance now to get out there and connect more with the people who are closer to the solutions.”
Brown is an active community volunteer and advocate for causes that support diversity, equity and inclusion. He is a Rutgers University National Transit Institute Fellow, an FBI Citizen Academy Alumnus, a Leadership American Public Transportation Association Class of 2016 graduate and a 2012 NAACP Entrepreneurship Honoree in San Antonio. He studied Organizational Development at University of The Incarnate Word and is NIMS/ICS certified in Emergency Management/ Response and has served in various leadership capacities over Operations, Law Enforcement, Safety, Training and others. Brown is also a current proud member of Leadership San Antonio Class 47.
