Neil Eisner. Photo courtesy the Eisner family.

Neil Eisner of Falls Church, VA who previously served with the FAA and DOT in several senior legal and policy positions, died on July 16 following a long illness. He was 83.

“Neil was one of the most hard-working and conscientious government employees we at ARSA had the pleasure of knowing and working with on a regular basis,” said Managing Director & General Counsel Marshall Filler about his first boss at the FAA; The two met when Eisner was manager of the accident litigation branch of the chief counsel’s office and Filler was a newly hired agency attorney. “I learned as much from Neil in those formative years of my professional career as I did from anyone. He was always patient and encouraging.”

Eisner retired in 2013 as the assistant general counsel for regulation and enforcement at the U.S. Department of Transportation. He played a major role in the creation of the first-of-its-kind internet-accessible public docket, as well as an innovative, intranet-based rulemaking management system. He was an adjunct professor at American University’s Washington College of Law, publishing multiple articles and presenting publicly on a variety of subjects.

In 2014, ARSA presented Eisner with the Leo Weston Award for Excellence in Government Service, given regularly to individuals who made a lasting impact in promoting the principles of “good government.” The tangible portion of the Weston Award is customized to the recipient: ARSA presented Eisner with a limited edition, framed commemoration of Mickey Mantle’s 18 World Series Home Runs, a record that stands to this day. Eisner and Filler, who delivered the award, were avid Yankee fans; each grew up in the New York City area when the team won numerous American League pennants and World Series titles.

“Neil will be deeply missed by his family and friends but his contributions to the principles of good government will live on,” Filler said.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. To read Neil’s obituary, click here.

To see the colleagues and friends ARSA continues to remember, visit arsa.org/arsa-remembers.

ARSA Honors Neil R. Eisner with the Leo Weston Award

March 25, 2014

On Thursday, March 20^th, 2014, ARSA Managing Director and General Council Marshall S. Filler presented the Leo Weston Award for Excellence in Government Service to Neil Eisner. The Weston Award, which was created in 2006, is given regularly by ARSA to individuals who have made a lasting impact on the practice of good government.

Mr. Eisner retired in 2013 as the Assistant General Counsel for Regulation and Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Transportation. He played a major role in the creation of the first-of-its-kind the internet-accessible public docket as well as an innovative, intranet-based rule making management system. He is now an adjunct professor at American University’s Washington College of Law, and he has published multiple articles and presented numerous speeches in different forums on a variety of subjects.

Upon presenting the award to Mr. Eisner, Filler explained: “We present this award to Neil not [just] because he is a good friend, but because he is a staunch advocate of good government.”

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