When you search for claude edward elkins jr, you’ll find a mix of information online that doesn’t always match official records. The name refers to Ed Elkins, who serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Norfolk Southern Corporation. This article clears up the naming confusion and walks through his verified career path, responsibilities, education, and professional involvement—all drawn from primary sources like Norfolk Southern’s leadership page and industry association documents.
You’ll learn about his journey from hands-on rail operations to executive leadership, the specific business areas he manages, and why different sources use different versions of his name. Instead of repeating vague claims, this piece sticks to documented facts from reliable railroad industry and corporate sources.
Verified Identity
Norfolk Southern’s official leadership biographies list him as Claude E. (“Ed”) Elkins, not “Claude Edward Elkins Jr.” His corporate title is Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, a role he’s held since being promoted to senior commercial leadership in 2021. The company’s public documents and the Southeast Association of Rail Shippers bio both use “Claude E. Elkins” or simply “Ed Elkins” when referencing him.
However, several online articles and social media posts expand his name to “Claude Edward Elkins Jr.” These sources don’t cite official Norfolk Southern materials for the “Jr.” designation, and it doesn’t appear in his LinkedIn profile or industry association records. For accuracy, this article uses “Ed Elkins” and “Claude E. Elkins” to match the primary documentation from his employer and professional organizations.
Why Do Some Sources Call Him “Claude Edward Elkins Jr.”?
The expanded name likely comes from informal web content that added “Edward” as a full middle name and tacked on “Jr.” without verification. Content mills and aggregator sites sometimes embellish names to differentiate articles or fill out titles, even when the person’s official bio doesn’t support those additions. Norfolk Southern’s leadership page makes no mention of “Jr.,” and the PDF bio from the rail shipper association—used for industry events—also omits it.
This naming mismatch matters because it can confuse readers trying to verify information. When checking facts about executives, always cross-reference official company biographies and regulatory filings rather than relying solely on third-party blogs. In this case, “claude edward elkins jr” appears to be an online variation, while “Ed Elkins” or “Claude E. Elkins” represents the verified identity used in professional and corporate contexts.
Role and Title
Ed Elkins leads Norfolk Southern’s commercial operations, overseeing three major business divisions: Intermodal, Automotive, and Industrial Products. As Chief Commercial Officer, he’s responsible for revenue generation across these segments and works closely with sales teams to build customer relationships and drive freight volumes. His portfolio also includes Real Estate, Industrial Development, Short Line Marketing, Field Sales, and Customer Logistics.
These responsibilities mean he coordinates between operational teams moving freight and commercial teams selling transportation services. For instance, the Intermodal division handles containers and trailers that move on trains and then transfer to trucks, while Automotive focuses on shipping finished vehicles and automotive parts. Industrial Products covers goods like chemicals, metals, and construction materials—sectors that depend on reliable rail connections for cost-effective long-distance transport.
According to the rail shipper association bio from 2023, his title at that time was Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. This suggests Norfolk Southern may have adjusted the title between 2021 and the present, or different sources use “Chief Marketing Officer” and “Chief Commercial Officer” interchangeably to describe the same senior commercial role. Either way, his core function remains consistent: leading the teams that generate Norfolk Southern’s commercial revenue.
What Responsibilities Fall Under His Commercial Portfolio?
Managing multiple divisions requires balancing different customer needs and market dynamics. Intermodal business depends on partnerships with trucking companies and logistics providers, while Automotive clients include major manufacturers with strict delivery schedules. Industrial Products customers, on the other hand, often ship bulk commodities that require specialized rail cars and long-term contracts.
Beyond these three main divisions, Elkins oversees support functions that help close sales and develop new business opportunities:
- Real Estate and Industrial Development teams work with companies looking to build facilities near rail lines
- Short Line Marketing involves partnerships with smaller regional railroads that connect to Norfolk Southern’s network
- Field Sales representatives maintain direct contact with customers across different regions
- Customer Logistics provides supply chain consulting to optimize clients’ shipping strategies
This structure means his team handles everything from initial customer outreach to ongoing account management, blending sales strategy with operational coordination. It’s a commercial role that requires understanding both the railroad’s capabilities and customers’ logistics challenges.
Early Rail Operations Experience
Ed Elkins started with Norfolk Southern in 1988 as a Road Brakeman after completing service in the U.S. Marine Corps. Road Brakemen work on freight trains, handling coupling and uncoupling of cars, inspecting equipment, and assisting the conductor with train operations. It’s a hands-on job that requires physical stamina and attention to safety procedures, and it gave him direct exposure to how railroads move freight.
From there, he advanced through several operations roles. He became a Conductor, responsible for the overall operation of a train and coordinating with the locomotive engineer. Then he worked as a Locomotive Engineer, actually running the train and controlling speed and braking. He also served as a Relief Yardmaster, supervising railyard activities like assembling trains and directing crews. These positions built a foundation in railroad operations that would later inform his commercial decision-making—he understood what was operationally feasible before promising service levels to customers.
Marketing and Commercial Progression
After roughly two decades in operations and then Intermodal Marketing, Elkins shifted fully into commercial leadership. His background in operations gave him credibility with both internal teams and customers who needed someone who understood rail logistics, not just sales tactics. Norfolk Southern promoted him to Group Vice President of Chemicals Marketing in 2016, putting him in charge of a major revenue segment.
Two years later, in 2018, he moved to Vice President of Industrial Products, expanding his commercial scope to include metals, construction materials, and other industrial freight. That role positioned him for the jump to executive leadership in 2021, when he took on overall responsibility for commercial strategy across all business lines. The progression shows a deliberate path from frontline operations to specialized marketing roles to broad commercial oversight.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1988 | Hired by Norfolk Southern as a Road Brakeman |
| 2016 | Named Group Vice President of Chemicals Marketing |
| 2018 | Promoted to Vice President of Industrial Products |
| 2021 | Appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer |
Education and Training
Elkins earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. While English might seem unrelated to railroading, strong writing and communication skills matter in commercial roles where executives draft proposals, present to customers, and negotiate contracts. He later completed an MBA at Old Dominion University, concentrating in Port & Maritime Economics. That specialization makes sense given Norfolk Southern’s significant intermodal business and connections to East Coast ports.
Beyond formal degrees, he pursued executive education through programs at Harvard Business School, the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, and the University of Tennessee Supply Chain Institute. These certificates cover topics like leadership, strategic thinking, and logistics management—skills directly applicable to running a multi-billion-dollar commercial operation. Continued education at that level signals a commitment to staying current on business practices and supply chain trends.
Memberships and Affiliations
Ed Elkins serves as Vice Chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, reflecting Norfolk Southern’s Atlanta headquarters and his role in regional business advocacy. He also sits on the board of the National Association of Manufacturers, connecting him to major industrial customers and policy discussions affecting freight transportation. His board position at TTX Company—a jointly owned railcar pooling company—puts him at the table with other Class I railroads to coordinate equipment standards and availability.
Additional affiliations include the Georgia State University Marketing RoundTable and The Conference Board’s Council for Chief Marketing Officers. These memberships provide networking opportunities with other senior commercial leaders and access to research on marketing trends and customer behavior. They also enhance Norfolk Southern’s visibility in business circles beyond the railroad industry.
Conclusion
When you search for claude edward elkins jr, the verified individual is Ed Elkins (Claude E. Elkins), Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Norfolk Southern. His career arc runs from a Road Brakeman role in 1988, through operations positions like Conductor and Locomotive Engineer, into marketing and commercial leadership roles starting in 2016, and finally to executive responsibility for all commercial divisions in 2021. His education includes degrees from UVA and Old Dominion plus executive training from top business schools, and he holds board positions in major business organizations.
The “Claude Edward Elkins Jr” variation appears in some online articles, but Norfolk Southern’s official biographies and industry association documents use “Ed Elkins” or “Claude E. Elkins” without the “Jr.” suffix. For anyone researching his background or professional accomplishments, sticking to primary sources ensures accuracy over relying on informal web content that may embellish or misstate names and titles.