Rich Watson

Rich Watson is the Principal of Traction Power at US Rail Systems, where he brings more than 35 years of hands-on electrical and substation experience to the firm’s rail clients. His career spans every level of the work, from maintaining switchgear in the field to leading the teams and budgets behind one of the country’s major transit systems.

Rich spent 27 years with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), where he rose from Electrician to Foreworker, Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent, and ultimately Assistant Chief of Maintenance and Engineering. In that role he led superintendents, supervisors, union-represented crews, and contractors across BART’s maintenance and construction departments, with a focus on substations. He served as the Affordability Lead for the departments under his oversight and as a lead for resource planning and work execution, making sure projects were delivered safely, on schedule, and within budget.

His technical foundation is deep. Rich has maintained and repaired 34.5 kV, 4160 V, and 1 kV substations and switchgear, along with transformers, rectifiers, breakers, and motor control centers. Before BART, he spent a decade as an electrician with Pacific Gas and Electric, including work at the Potrero Power Plant in San Francisco, and provided electrical support at the Chevron and Shell refineries in Martinez.

Known as a safety champion and process-improvement expert, Rich values employee engagement and builds teams that do high-quality work the first time. He holds a C-10 Electrical Contractors License and an Associate of Science in Electronics from Heald College, and completed PG&E training in relays and vectors, print reading, and basic electricity.