Surface Operations

Sonya Proctor is the Assistant Administrator for Surface Operations, which aligns surface transportation security operations under direct executive leadership to provide the most effective and efficient security solutions for the four modes of land-based transportation: mass transit, freight rail, highway motor carrier and pipeline. Proctor is responsible for strategic surface transportation security operations management and services, not only agency-wide, but also on a national level and scope in all surface transportation modes.

Prior to this position, she served as the Director of the Surface Division in Policy, Plans and Engagement, where she exercised responsibility for developing risk-based, effective and efficient security policy in conjunction with stakeholders in surface transportation modes. Proctor also served as Deputy Federal Security Director at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where she had oversight of the day-to-day security operations of the airport. Prior to this position, Proctor served as Deputy Assistant Director of Security Services and Assessments within the Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service, where she was responsible for oversight of the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program, and the Office of Security Assessments, a national program to conduct joint vulnerability and MANPADS vulnerability assessments of key transportation assets.

Proctor started her law enforcement career with the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department. During her 25-year tenure, she served in the patrol and investigative ranks, directing and leading the department through many city-wide challenges, including crime reduction, civil disturbances, sensitive investigations and significant departmental reorganization. She rose to command many key positions in the department, including serving as Commander of the Third Police District, often recognized for its broad diversity and the model community policing approach she developed with her community partners. She served in every rank from patrol officer to Chief of Police, retiring from the department after serving as the Chief of Police in an interim capacity.

Proctor went on to serve as the Chief of Police for the national Amtrak Police Department, developing a new strategic blend of city policing in a passenger railroad environment. In conjunction with then NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, Proctor co-chaired the Northeast Corridor Coalition, a group of law enforcement leaders dedicated to enhancing post 9/11 security on Amtrak for passengers between Washington, DC, and New York.

She is a graduate of the 130th session of the prestigious FBI National Academy, a long-time member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and its Civil Rights Committee, and she remains active in the national and international law enforcement community. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Johns Hopkins University.