United States of America

Robert W. Kiernan is an expert on energy policy and has been closely involved with US maglev projects for many years.

Professional Experience

 Mr. Robert Kiernan is an internationally recognized authority on Maglev technology and projects. He has a distinguished record working at the highest levels with government and private sector sponsors of Maglev enterprises in the United States, Japan and Europe.

Mr. Kiernan has played a leadership role in every Maglev project of national significance in the United States. He has advocated for both EDS and EMS Maglev systems at U.S. trade associations and international forums including the IMB and the UIC World Congress.

As Executive Director of the Council on Superconductivity he was a sponsor of Congressional legislation that established the National Maglev Initiative (NMI). The NMI was the first public/private coordinated US Maglev program. Private industry partnered with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the Department of Energy to deliver EDS and EMS Maglev system concept designs and subsystem technology. Mr. Kiernan led the industry team that designed new guideway structures for superconducting Maglev systems.

As a Management Consultant with Strategic Insight, Ltd. he advised government and industry clients on top-level planning for complex, leading-edge programs. Under the Maglev Deployment Program (MDP), Mr. Kiernan was an advisor to the Baltimore-Washington Maglev project and Transrapid USA.atories. 

As Senior Director at The Northeast Maglev (TNEM) Mr. Kiernan worked with top management and engineers of Central Japan Railway Company (JRC) to promote Superconducting Maglev in the Northeast Corridor. He led a series of complex feasibility studies and was the principal project advocate to key stakeholders along the alignment.

Mr. Kiernan has broad career experience working in the private sector and government. He was an Analyst for the American Petroleum Institute, Director of Energy Policy at the National Association of Manufacturers, and Manager of Policy Development at the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Mr. Kiernan has outstanding research and analytic skills. He is experienced in the collection, assessment and presentation of competitive intelligence. He is an exceptional communicator and writer as well as an articulate and persuasive public speaker.