[1] He worked for the global management consulting firm of A.T. Kearney, Inc., where he led business improvement initiatives for clients in the private and public sectors, with a focus on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mr. Appel has worked in the transportation field since the late 1980s, and has supported organizations in the railroad, trucking, airline, and ocean shipping industries with growth strategy, supply chain improvement, post-merger integration, public-private partnerships, and other key business and policy issues.

[1] During his tenure at RITA, Appel worked with Secretary Ray LaHood to advance key U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) initiatives by leveraging effective research and cross-modal coordination.

Appel coordinated DOT's research programs associated with railroads, aviation, maritime transportation and vehicles.

As administrator of RITA, he also coordinated DOT efforts on distracted driving[4] and research gathering statistical data about the various transportation modes.