AAR names Dorsey recipient of annual safety award

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has selected Ken Dorsey as the recipient of its 2026 Holden-Proefrock Award for his contributions to environmental safety and hazardous materials management.

During his nearly 30-year career in the freight-rail industry, Dorsey has served as an equipment foreman and hazardous materials responder at the Santa Fe Railroad and as a system mechanical engineer with BNSF Railway. He is currently the AAR's tank car safety executive director.

Dorsey has led the development and implementation of critical tank-car safety standards, including 117R valve protection requirements, protective housings for non-pressure cars and rules for carrying flammable liquid, which have resulted in record safety gains across the industry, AAR officials said in a press release.

He also improved operational processes for tank car and service equipment approvals and strengthened collaboration among key safety, industry and government partners.

The Holden-Proefrock Award is named for Roy Holden, a former AAR employee and an innovator in tank car design, damage assessment and safety, and Art Proefrock, a former Hulcher Emergency Services employee who pioneered hazmat transportation emergency response,