Director of Train Operations at CSX Transportation, Inc
Soldier learned how to handle stress in the Army.
He leveraged these skills into a great civilian job.
by Warren Duffie

Tension charged the atmosphere as Rick Campbell took his chair. In front of him sat a panel of tough railroad managers, auditioning him for a slot in the dispatcher training program with CSX Transportation Inc.

The inquisitors immediately launched a salvo of questions: What was his most stressful work situation? How does he handle pressure? Why should he be considered for a position with CSX? What would he do if a train broke down or was running late?

A veteran of several Army promotion boards and Soldier of the Quarter competitions, Campbell deftly answered each question, not even breaking a sweat.

“I was really fortunate to have come from the military,” said Campbell, currently a sergeant major in the Florida Army National Guard. “Some of the other candidates cracked under the pressure. When I left the interview, I was tickled because I knew I nailed it. But I saw a lot of other candidates looking panicky and chewing their nails.”

On the Job
Campbell’s unflappable demeanor has helped him climb through the ranks during a successful 20-year career with CSX Transportation Inc. The company operates the largest railroad in the eastern United States.

Campbell, 44, is the director of train operations for CSX’s Jacksonville & Florence Division, which snakes from Miami, Fla., to Manchester, Ga. – and then from Savannah, Ga., to Pensacola, Fla.

The command sergeant major’s hours vary, but he usually works at least 12-hour shifts. “CSX pays very well, but the hours are long. I don’t mind it as I love the challenge. My job is to ensure that everyone has the resources they need to keep the trains running efficiently.” Campbell makes sure the trains are the proper length and there are crews to operate the trains on time. He also schedules maintenance to be sure the tracks are free of defects.

“The Army taught me to work under stress and handle deadlines,” he continued. “At CSX I have to put out a lot of fires.”

In Uniform
A native of Salem, N.H., Campbell enlisted in 1983, completed boot camp at Fort Jackson, S.C., and attended signal school at Fort Gordon, Ga. After stints in Germany and Arizona, he left active duty in 1987, entering the Florida Army National Guard. He is currently the command sergeant major of the unit’s 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion.

“When I left active duty, I was too young to be smart, so I didn’t prepare properly,” he said. “My first couple of years out, I worked construction and various odd jobs. Times were tight.”

The Transition
When his wife, then an active-duty Soldier, was stationed in Jacksonville, Campbell landed a job with CSX digging ditches and installing signals at railroad crossings. However, his military skills soon set him apart. It wasn’t long before a CSX representative encouraged him to interview for the signal operator training program.

“CSX is a great place for military veterans,” he said. “The transportation operations are very similar to the military’s structure, and some of the terminology is derived from military lingo. There’s a strong commitment to executing the mission well and refining operations to achieve success.

“The pay and benefits are also very good,” Campbell continued. “There are other intangibles. For example, I recently returned from a yearlong deployment to Iraq. CSX supplemented my military pay while I was overseas. It was a good feeling to know the company cared about me.”

Campbell's Advice
Understand exactly why it is you are considering leaving the service. “Most individuals attempt to return to active duty shortly after entering the civilian world and realizing it does not operate the same way. Make sure you really want to leave the military.”

Pay for or design the best résumé possible. “The requirements for a résumé are constantly changing in the corporate world. No one likes to read lengthy résumés that are no more than biographies and do not readily appeal to corporate types who have never served.

Find a way to continue your military service to at least achieve a retirement. “Seriously consider the Guard and Reserve and work toward your 20 years. Nothing is guaranteed anymore. You need to look at all your retirement options.”