Hazardous Materials Management Staff Bios
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Michael Algots
Michael Algots manages hazardous materials and environmental incident prevention, preparedness, response and recovery for Northern California and North/West Nevada.
Prior to his current position, Michael started with Union Pacific in 2011 as a Freight Car Inspector and Repairman.
Michael’s pre-railroad experience includes 10 years as a Fire Fighter/EMT for Cal Fire/Fresno County Fire.
Josh Carillo
Josh Carillo joined Union Pacific as a conductor before moving to roles as a locomotive engineer and Operations Manager before move to his current role in Hazardous Materials in San Antonio.
He studied at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor, Cameron University, American Military University, Central Texas College, and at Palo Alto and Northwest Vista College. He then served for ten years as a firefighter, including several years as a Security Forces Augmentee.
He earned numerous certifications and credentials from the US Air Force and Department of Defense. He also was accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress, the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (PRO Board) and the National Fire Protection Association.
Josh spends his personal time working on home improvement projects, traveling, and with friends and family. His wife has nominated him as the loudest cheering dad at his son's sporting events!
Joe Eichten
Joe Eichten manages hazardous materials and environmental incident prevention, preparedness, response and recovery for Minnesota, Western Wisconsin and Northern Iowa. He started with Union Pacific in 2015.
Prior to his current position, he spent 19 years with a waste management company as a Regional and Branch Manager of Industrial Waste Services and five years with an emergency services company as Environmental Services-Emergency Response Manager covering five states.
Professional certifications include OSHA Hazwopper, NIMS ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800 and Shell Firefighter Advanced Basic Training conducted via Texas A&M Engineering Extension Services at Texas A&M University.
He received his BA from The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN and resides in Stillwater, MN. Joe’s hobbies include world and U.S. history, golf and coaching youth hockey and baseball.
Damian Guy
Damian Guy has been with Union Pacific since 2007 and working with hazardous material since 2000. He started as the Lead Chemical Production Operator for a chemical company. He also provided chemical support for a company involved in microchip manufacturing.
Professional certifications include but not limited to: OSHA 29CFR 1910.120 Hazwopper, NIMS ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800, Shell Oil-Live Fire Training, Operational Level Response to Hazmat/WMD Incidents, and SERTC Basic and Advanced Tank Car Training.
Damian was the captain of his college basketball team in Arizona and went on to play professionally in South America. He still enjoys getting on the court to play regularly and has taken up golf.
Jake Hammer
Jake Hammer is responsible for hazardous materials and environmental incident prevention, preparedness, response and recovery in Idaho surrounding states.
Jake joined Union Pacific Railroad since 2015 after serving both as a Hazardous Materials Technician and as a Hazardous Materials Manager. His experience has provided him with a very diverse knowledge base including fire science, technical rescue, emergency medical technician, and hazardous materials response.
He graduated High School in Gillette, Wyoming and has been pursuing a Bachelor Degree in Occupational Health and Safety.
When he isn’t on duty with Union Pacific Railroad, Jake spends time with his family, working out and traveling the country to compete in fishing tournaments.
Chip Heard
Chip Heard is responsible for the prevention of releases, preparedness of both internal and external customers, response management of hazardous materials and environmental incidents, and recovery following an incident. He covers Arkansas, Northeast Texas, and Memphis.
Prior to his current position, Chip was a hazardous materials response contractor for the railroad and all other modes of transportation. He is a Registered Environmental Manager and has an associate’s degree in general studies and fire science along with numerous hazardous materials classes.
Chip’s pre-railroad experience includes 25 years in fire service as both career and part-paid department, of which 14 were as a firefighter/paramedic. He is married with three children and one grandchild. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and wood-working.
Paul Holt
Paul Holt manages hazardous materials and environmental incident prevention, preparedness, response and recovery for northern California.
Prior to his current position, Paul served as a Track Foreman with Maintenance of Way. His education consists of Bachelor of Arts degree from CSU Fresno and multiple certificates from the California State Fire Marshal and Fire Academy.
Paul’s pre-railroad experience includes ten years as a firefighter with the US Forest Service and CAL-FIRE Fresno County Fire Protection District.
Michael Moore
Michael Moore became a volunteer firefighter in 1986 and eventually became a career firefighter. While working as a lieutenant for Kennendale, TX Fire Department, he also performed contract training, emergency response and site remediation work for Union Pacific. In 2006, he joined Union Pacific in Hazardous Materials.
Michael is responsible for providing oversight on hazmat transportation, responding to emergencies, and addressing site recovery to prevent and reduce environmental risks. Michael has brought awareness to first responders across Union Pacific in handling of emergencies. Michael was instrumental in setting up a derailment scenario at the Fire Service Training Center at Tarrant County College so first responders could receive hands-on training for derailments and releases.
Our team’s efforts often bring value beyond our tracks. After an explosion near the railroad at West, Texas, responders’ initial estimate for securing the scene was one to two weeks. Michael participated in the response because of the town’s proximity to the railroad. To assist the ATF and State Fire Marshal, Michael surveyed the circumstances and devised a plan for securing anhydrous ammonia tanks in a matter of hours. The relationships Union Pacific built with all agencies involved and the West, Texas community created an opportunity for trust in addition to helping the community start rebuilding sooner.
Mark Newton
Mark Newton manages hazardous materials and environmental incident prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
Prior to his current position, Mark served as a Union Pacific Police Officer (hazardous materials specialist), Conductor, and Locomotive Engineer. His education consists of numerous certifications related to hazardous materials and environmental response, including the “chemistry for Emergency Response” course at the National Fire Academy. Mark also possesses a B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Mark's pre-railroad experience includes seven years as a Sheriff's Deputy and Police Officer and seven years as a firefighter with the Platte Canyon Volunteer Fire Department in Bailey, CO. Mark is a retired Sergeant First Class from the Nevada Army National Guard. Mark lives in Imperial, MO with his wife and their son. He spends much of his off time hunting, fishing and riding his motorcycle.
Tim O'Brien
Tim O’Brien has been in the hazardous materials emergency response industry since 1984. Tim is responsible for the safe implementation of the mission of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery of hazardous materials releases. As part of this mission, he manages hazardous materials incidents, trains first responders, develops emergency response plans, and performs a variety of community outreach programs.
Prior to joining Union Pacific Railroad, Tim O’Brien spent 17 years as a hazardous materials emergency response contractor. In these roles, he managed hazardous materials incidents at fixed facilities and all modes of transportation.
Tim has a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin.
Tyler Parker
Tyler Parker manages hazardous materials and environmental incident prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery for the Houston area.
Tyler joined Union Pacific Railroad in2015. His education consists of numerous certification related to hazardous materials, and environmental response, including the DOD Fire Service. Tyler also has an A.S. in Emergency Management from the U.S.A.F. and a B.S. in Human Resource Development from Southwestern College.
Tyler's pre-railroad experience includes three years as Environmental Technician at iSi Environmental and six years at the Kansas Air National Guard in Emergency Management.
In his spare time he enjoys taking his children fishing, camping, and four-wheeling. He also spends time riding his motorcycle.
Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson manages hazardous materials and environmental incident prevention, preparedness, response and recovery in Louisiana.
Prior to his current position, Tom was a Foreman General II in Union Pacific’s Mechanical Car Department, Track Machine Operator, and Track Assistant Foreman. His education consists of certifications related to hazardous materials and environmental response.
Tom’s pre-railroad experience includes eight years service in the 81 MM Mortar Platoon Weapons Company 3rd Battalion 23rd Marine Reserves Baton Rouge, LA. While serving in the Marine Reserves, Tom attended Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA.
Tom is also a current volunteer Firefighter for the Pointe Coupee Parish District 4 Fire Department in Livonia, LA. He and his wife have five children. He enjoys spending time with the family along with fishing, hunting, and working out in his free time.
Lane Sekavec
Lane Sekavec has been an emergency responder since 1983, starting as a volunteer in his hometown of Hoisington, KS and then as a paid-on-call firefighter while at Fort Hays State University. He was a member of the Olathe, KS Fire Department for nine years and was a charter member of their haz-mat team. Lane has a B.A in Communications and an A.S. in Fire Science.
He joined the Union Pacific Railroad as a switchman/brakeman, qualified as a locomotive engineer and then moved into management at Neff Yard in Kansas City, MO.
In 2000, he joined the Hazardous Materials team in Kansas City, MO, responsible for emergency responder and shipper training, outreach activities, customer interactions and emergency response in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. He oversees all response activities on Union Pacific.
Lane and his wife Mary have two sons. In his spare time, Lane is a model railroader and enjoys riding his motorcycle, playing drums and attending his boys’ activities.