2nd Vice General Chairman

BLET NS Southern Lines

Jack E. Briles III brings nearly three decades of unmatched railroad expertise and proven union leadership to his full-time position as 2nd Vice General Chairman of BLET GCA 810. A qualified locomotive engineer with Norfolk Southern since October 1997, Jack remains current on all engineer certifications. His many years of hands-on experience operating locomotives give him the practical knowledge, credibility, and deep understanding of the real challenges faced by engineers and trainmen that only a true railroader can deliver—making his advocacy exceptionally effective now that he works exclusively on behalf of the membership.

Jack’s journey as a union leader began early and has been marked by steady advancement and unwavering commitment. In 1999 he was elected Vice Local Chairman, then rose to Local Chairman in 2000, serving with distinction until 2004 when he was elected Secretary-Treasurer (2004–2007). During that time he completed intensive Local Chairman training at the George Meany Center for Labor Studies alongside respected leaders Mark Wallace and Rusty Jones—training he pursued even while the D.C. sniper attacks created widespread uncertainty, demonstrating the same steady resolve members can count on today. That early experience built the foundation for his election as 3rd Vice General Chairman and then, in July 2021, as 2nd Vice General Chairman of BLET GCA 810—a position to which he was overwhelmingly reelected at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting in May 2024. In this full-time role, he helps lead representation for more than 4,000 active and retired locomotive engineers and trainmen across 40 divisions in 15 states on Norfolk Southern’s Southern Lines.

When you choose the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, you are choosing the strongest, most experienced representation in the industry—representation led by professionals like Jack Briles III who have lived the work, earned every promotion through the ranks, and now devote themselves full-time to protecting the safety, benefits, working conditions, and quality of life you deserve. No other organization can match the depth of real-world knowledge, proven leadership skill, and member-first commitment that BLET leaders deliver every single day. If you want a union that truly understands your job because its leaders have sat in the same seat and now work exclusively for you, the BLET—with dedicated, battle-tested advocates like Jack Briles III—is the clear choice for superior protection and a stronger future on the railroad.