Josie Curtis joins Patriot Rail as Vice President of People Strategy, bringing nearly two decades of HR leadership to support growth and culture.
Patriot Rail Company, a leading U.S. operator of short line and regional freight railroads and related rail services, has announced the appointment of Josie Curtis as its new Vice President of People Strategy, effective January 2026. The leadership move reflects the company’s continued focus on strengthening its organizational structure and supporting long-term growth.
Curtis brings nearly 20 years of experience in human resources leadership, most recently holding senior roles at R.J. Corman. Her background spans enterprise-wide HR strategy, compliance, and safety management for geographically dispersed and highly regulated workforces.
Throughout her career, Curtis has overseen HR operations for more than 1,400 employees across 23 states and supported multiple subsidiaries. Her expertise includes implementing company-wide HRIS platforms, building scalable HR processes, leading compliance and risk-mitigation initiatives, and partnering with cross-functional leaders to align people strategy with business goals while enhancing the overall employee experience.
“Josie’s industry experience and organizational development expertise will be invaluable as we continue to grow,” said Brandy Christian, CEO of Patriot Rail Company. “Our culture—the Patriot Way—is built on collaboration and innovation, and investing in our people strategy ensures our employees grow alongside the company.”
Brad Gordon, Chief Legal Officer of Patriot Rail Company, added that Curtis’s strategic mindset and commitment to building engaged teams will play a key role in strengthening the company’s people and culture.
In her new role, Curtis will lead Patriot Rail’s end-to-end people strategy, including talent acquisition and development, employee relations, compliance, compensation and benefits, performance management, and the total employee experience. She will also serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, helping ensure HR programs and policies drive workforce effectiveness, engagement, and organizational resilience.
About Patriot Rail Company
Patriot Rail is a U.S.-based short line and regional rail service provider operating 31 short line railroads, four excursion railroads, and a range of support services such as transloading, railcar storage, and real estate and logistics planning. The company operates more than 1,200 miles of track with a presence in 23 states.
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