On January 25, 2023 – SEPTA announced that Ronald Keele was appointed as the Authority’s Chief Safety Officer. Keele will report to SEPTA General Manager and CEO Leslie S. Richards.
The Chief Safety Officer will lead the development – monitoring, and necessary adjustment of SEPTA’s plan to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all employees, riders, and community members. Keele will develop methods to measure the Authority’s safety performance and establish programs to routinely involve Executive Leadership in safety planning.
Keele comes to SEPTA from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) – where he served as Chief Safety Officer. At WMATA – Keele oversaw the Authority’s Department of System Safety and Risk Management, which includes passenger, vehicle and fire life safety; environmental safety and health; safety training; and the workers’ compensation and quality assurance offices.
“Ron’s experience makes him the ideal candidate to take on this role,” says SEPTA General Manager and CEO Leslie S. Richards. “Under his leadership, we will enhance our system and occupational safety standards, ensuring the best environment for our employees and riders.”
Keele brings more than 35 years of experience in the safety field – with 29 years in mass transit safety. Before being appointed as WMATA’s Chief Safety Officer – he was the Executive Director of Safety, Quality Assurance, and Risk Management for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), where he managed the investigation of all accidents involving fatalities or serious injuries, reported unsafe acts, unacceptable hazardous conditions, derailments, and collisions. He also managed the system safety design review of all of MTA’s new facilities and equipment, system safety certification, fire protection engineering, and fire life safety code requirements.
Keele also worked as the System Safety Manager of Space Shuttle Operations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); served as the Director of Safety and Security for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA); and served as the Director of Passenger, Vehicle, Fire Life Safety and Emergency Management for WMATA.
Keele earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech – a master’s degree in business administration from the George Washington University, and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Maryland. He is also a registered professional engineer (P.E.) and certified safety professional (CSP).
We are excited to have Keele join the SEPTA family and look forward to the change and innovations he will bring in the future. For more information regarding the Authority and future plans, keep it here and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for recent news and updates.