Elliott, age 46, becomes the second UTU official to be selected for a senior position in the Obama administration. Former UTU Illinois State Legislative Director Joe Szabo was nominated by Obama -- and subsequently confirmed by the Senate -- to head the Federal Railroad Administration.

"The selection by President Obama of Dan Elliott and Joe Szabo to head major transportation regulatory agencies is tribute to the political influence of the UTU, which flows from the UTU PAC," said UTU International President Mike Futhey. "We have good reason to expect President Obama to reach into the UTU ranks for other appointments in the near future."

If confirmed by the Senate, Elliott would become the second Democrat on the three-member STB, joining Democrat Frank Mulvey (who has been acting chairman) and Republican Charles Nottingham. Mulvey previously was the principal adviser on railroad issues to Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Beyond regulating railroad pricing and service, the STB is the single federal agency from which railroads must seek approval to merge, abandon track and lease or sell lines. In regulating such transactions, the STB sets levels of labor protection.

Elliott has been the UTU’s associate general counsel since 1993, representing interests of the UTU and its members before the STB, the National Mediation Board, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Labor and federal courts.

He earned an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Michigan (1985) and a law degree from The Ohio State University (1989). Earlier in his career, Elliott practiced law with a number of firms in Cleveland and Washington, D.C.

The Senate Commerce Committee must now set a date for a confirmation hearing. If the committee votes in favor of Elliott, his nomination will move to the Senate floor for confirmation.

Dan Elliott