Tom Owens

Tom, a hometown native of Knoxville, TN, was hired in 1985 at the age of nineteen as a communications lineman by Norfolk Southern. While working in the C&S Engineering Department, he held positions as a floating maintainer, radio shop maintainer, and certified electronic technician. He also served in his IBEW local union as the financial secretary and later as president. In 1994, he began representing workers at the system council level with the IBEW. In this capacity, he served in a bivocational role as a railroad worker and as a union officer holding both dual titles as an Assistant General Chairman and Secretary Treasurer. During this window of time, he attended evening classes to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree. In 2016, he became the full time General Chairman until his retirement in 2025. Tom’s railroad career has spanned 40 years with 31 years as a union officer at the system council level. Tom has a passion for helping others coupled with a problem-solving mentality that drives his desire to assist railway workers.