Robert Gatchell

Robert Gatchell serves as Senior Executive Vice President of Operations for Remark Holdings since 2022, where he provides executive leadership for the Company’s emerging artificial intelligence (“AI”) technology, cyber security platforms and additional risk based solutions that can be tailored to clients’ needs. 

In 2016, Robert joined Brightline Trains Florida as the first Chief Safety and Security Officer of the only privately owned and operated passenger railroad in the U.S.  He led Brightline Trains' company wide initiatives to ensure employee, guest, and facility safety and security, oversaw the development and implementation of the crisis management plan and worked closely with all government and first responder entities in furtherance of the organization’s safety and security objectives. Throughout his tenure, he led all safety and security initiatives including emergency management within that organization. He also designed and implemented the only passenger and baggage security operation in the U.S. that screens every person and all baggage prior to boarding a Brightline train. 

Robert brings 25 years of experience in law enforcement/security with the majority of that time working in specialized roles focused on homeland security, safety and emergency management. Prior to joining Brightline Trains, Robert was a sworn law enforcement officer for the New Jersey Transit Police Department with the rank of Sergeant and for an eight (8) year tenure served as the Emergency Management Coordinator for NJ TRANSIT Corporation, the 3rd largest public transportation agency and only statewide transit agency in the United States. In that role, he was responsible for the overall preparedness for the agency in the areas of homeland security, safety initiatives, response, recovery, mitigation, and emergency planning and operations.

While at NJ TRANSIT, Robert served in supporting roles for the State of New Jersey to include the Emergency Support Function #1 (Transportation) Co-chair, NJ Weapons of Mass Destruction Advisory Committee Vice-Chair and a member of the Domestic Security Preparedness Planning Committee. Additionally, he led the planning and deployment plans (including crisis response and security plans) for planned and unplanned events that have involved high profile individuals. Some of these events were National Special Security Events which are the highest designation for events by the Department of Homeland Security. Other events included major sporting events such as Superbowl LIV and Superbowl XLVIII, political events such as the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden and religious gatherings such as the 12th Siyum HaShas at Meadowlands Stadium.

Robert continues to serve as an appointed member of the Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee (STSAC) and has done so since the STSAC was created in 2019.  The STSAC reports to the TSA Administrator and provides recommendations on surface transportation security matters, including the development, refinement, and implementation of policies, programs, initiatives, rulemakings, and security directives. Most recently, he was appointed co-chair of the Emergency Management and Resiliency Subcommittee under the STSAC.

He also is an active member of Peer Advisory Group which consists of representatives from law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S., Canada and the U.K. that serve and protect public transportation agencies.