More than 300 Union Pacific Railroad train dispatchers earned a 2024 Guardian Award for their vital role in helping keep employees, customers and communities safe. Five honorees have earned this recognition for an incredible 25 consecutive years.
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Considered the backbone of rail operations, train dispatchers coordinate the complex movement of trains, equipment and employees across more than 32,000 track miles. Their decisions directly impact the safety and reliability of the rail network.
Dan Limbaugh of the Spring Dispatching Center is one of only five train dispatchers in 2024 to earn the Guardian Award for 25 consecutive years.
“Receiving this award makes me reflect on our constant, collective commitment to maintaining a safe work environment,” Limbaugh said. “It’s a team effort, both in the dispatching office and out in the field.”
The Harriman Dispatching Center (HDC) serves as Union Pacific’s rail traffic control hub, overseeing locomotives, train crews and dispatching operations across the entire 23-state network. Dispatchers in this fast-paced environment must exhibit exceptional leadership, communication and critical thinking skills to ensure seamless operations.
“The Guardian Award gets its name because Union Pacific train dispatchers are the railroad’s protectors,” said Erin Batt, vice president-HDC and Network Planning and Operations. “This award recognizes their essential contributions to keeping our operations safe.”
Fellow 2024 recipients of the 25-year Guardian Award include Train Dispatchers Ron Miller, Brian Withers and Jason Lannon of Omaha’s HDC and Eric Howard of the Spring Dispatching Center.
“As dispatchers, we make hundreds – sometimes thousands – of safety-driven decisions every day,” Miller said. “The Guardian Award represents how those small wins add up. Nothing is more important than ensuring our co-workers go home safe.”
Lannon echoed this sentiment, adding, “I’ve been blessed to work with amazing crews, fellow dispatchers, corridor managers, managers of centralized train dispatching and support staff. This award reflects our shared dedication to safety.”
Withers added he takes pride in the opportunity to model safety as priority number one.
“It's caring about not only our co-workers, but also everyone they have counting on them at home,” said Withers. “By being diligent, focused and a ‘guardian’ for everyone, we can all go home to our loved ones.”
Visit UP.com to learn more about train dispatchers or UP.jobs for career opportunities at Union Pacific.
25-year Guardian Award recipients, clockwise from left: Train Dispatchers Eric Howard, Brian Withers pictured with his daughter, Ron Miller and Jason Lannon pictured with his wife.
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