07/10/2026
We've had a great start to the Railroads in Native America Forum today!
In honor of the modern experience of Native Americans working at the Railroad, we have an interview with Desrie Valdez, a member of Union Pacific’s CONAH and one of the original Steering Committee members from the first RRNA:
What drew you to the railroad industry, and what has kept you there?
__
My passion for education and pride in being a generational railroader laid the tracks for my career at Union Pacific.
__
What was your impression of the railroad industry growing up?
__
My childhood was spent following a tie gang that was comprised of Navajo railroaders. My dad and uncles worked together traveling the southwest region of the U.S. installing and maintaining tracks on the Southern Pacific line. My mother and I accompanied my father frequently. It was common to see other railroad wives and children traveling with the tie gang which created a community of Navajo families outside the reservation. I would spend my afternoons playing with the other Navajo children on the playgrounds, visiting museums, community pools, or consignment stores. It was because of the railroad, I understood how big the world was outside of the Navajo reservation. I visited small towns like Fernley, NE for winter break or popular get away spots like Palm Springs, CA during spring break.
For the Navajo people, education is the future of our people. During the signing of the Navajo treaty of 1868, Navajo leaders were expected to comply to various expectations before returning to their homelands. One of the expectations was to send Navajo children to school. I was told the story in grade school that one of the Navajo leaders, Chief Manuelito stated, “My grandchildren, education is the ladder, tell our people to take it.” I was driven to go to college and come back to the reservation to help my people. After pursuing my degree, I worked with the Navajo Nation for three years with the tribal welfare program. I worked as a job coach and was introduced to training delivery. I realized I had a knack for training and helping people learn new skills.
My upbringing and memories of my childhood railroad families instilled an interest in carrying on our family tradition and work for the railroad. In 2008, I was able to take my passion of learning and working for the railroad industry together. I was hired to develop Mechanical leaders who could engage the workforce and lead high performing teams. Soon after, I was introduced to training design and development where I built training programs to support Mechanical operations at Union Pacific. Today, I have the privilege to lead the Mechanical and Engineering Technical Training team who deliver technical skills training for Union Pacific employees throughout our railroad system that stretches across 23 states.
