John DelGuercio’s Internship with the Federal Railroad Administration

John DelGuercio, a junior double majoring in Economics and Political Science at Rutgers University, spent the summer interning with the Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Safety in the Department of Transportation, where he got to learn from talented public servants and apply his economics studies in the real world.

My name is John DelGuercio, and I'm a junior at Rutgers University double majoring in Economics and Political Science. This summer, I worked in the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Office of Safety in the Department of Transportation Headquarters. Throughout my time at FRA, I worked with economists as they prepared regulatory impact analyses of proposed railroad safety rules. To do this, I performed data collection and analysis, proofread rule texts, and prepared reports for senior management. The biggest project I worked on this summer was one in which I analyzed railroad labor trends, culminating in multiple presentations to the FRA’s highest ranking career bureaucrats. It was an exciting opportunity to be able to meaningfully contribute to the Office of Safety’s work.

My favorite part of being an FRA intern was being able to work alongside many talented public servants. Economists, attorneys, subject matter experts and senior management alike all shared a dedication to use their unique abilities for the betterment of society. In a Department-wide event for the interns, I had the opportunity to meet Secretary Buttigieg. When he made a speech at the event, he emphasized the importance of public service, stating that good public servants reduce burdens on everyday Americans so that they can live their lives in whatever manner they desire.

My favorite part about living in DC was having so many opportunities to grow and enjoy myself. I was able to meet a lot of interesting people, and I explored many different parts of the city. As someone who really enjoys nature, one of my favorite places to visit was Rock Creek Park. There are a lot of great bike and hiking trails there, and I was able to see the Citi Open from the park.

My advice for having a successful semester in DC is to always go the extra mile. Put the extra effort into your project at your internship; make a point to explore the city. All of this will make your experience in DC a more meaningful one.