[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 29, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S5478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              JIM WILDING

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a friend and 
an outstanding citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia, James A. 
Wilding, on the occasion of his retirement from the Metropolitan 
Washington Airports Authority. In the 25 years I have had the 
opportunity to serve in this body many Senators have come and gone. The 
faces of industry and its leaders have changed as well. In changing 
times Jim Wilding has been constant--always a trusted advisor to me and 
others for the more than 40 years he has served the Nation's capital 
airports.
  In his role at the Authority, Jim is responsible for the management 
of two of our most important airports in the country--Washington Dulles 
International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. He 
has managed them through rapid growth, the transition away from Federal 
operation, and now into the new post 9/11 security paradigm. His vision 
is the result of strong knowledge, experience, and dedication to his 
craft.
  Mr. Wilding began his career with the Federal Aviation Administration 
soon after graduating from the Catholic University of America in 1959 
with a graduate degree in civil engineering. At the FAA, he 
participated in the original planning and development of Washington 
Dulles International Airport. I remember when that airport was being 
built--many scoffed at the idea. They questioned the need for a 
facility of that magnitude and objected to the seemingly rural 
location. Today we applaud the foresight that went into Dulles. Our 
transportation system relies on the balance between Dulles and Reagan. 
Jim Wilding has been an integral part of this visionary leadership.
  Following the opening of Dulles in 1962, Mr. Wilding held 
progressively responsible positions in all phases of engineering for 
the two federally owned airports, eventually becoming the 
organization's chief engineer. He served as chief engineer until 
becoming the airports' deputy director in 1975, and then its director 4 
years later.
  Mr. Wilding served as the director of the FAA's Metropolitan 
Washington Airports organization from December 1979. In June 1987, the 
airports were transferred to the newly created Airports Authority, 
where he assumed his current position as president.
  During his tenure as president and CEO of the Airports Authority, the 
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority passenger activity at 
National and Dulles Airports nearly doubled to 31 million passengers in 
2002. With this growth, he has overseen and managed a massive capital 
development program at both airports totaling well over $3 billion 
dollars. Under his leadership, Reagan National Airport was modernized 
with a new terminal building in 1997 which brought major improvements 
to airport traffic management and Metro system connections. At Dulles, 
he directed the expansion and construction of new concourses, the 
building of the airport's first parking garages, and is now managing a 
$3.2 billion capital improvement project. In addition, the Smithsonian 
will open its new Air and Space Museum later this year located at 
Dulles Airport.
  Mr. Wilding's career is highlighted with many accolades, which, along 
with his outstanding performance, have earned him a national and 
international reputation as an aviation industry expert.
  I wish to extend my sincerest congratulations to Mr. James A. Wilding 
on the occasion of his retirement. I am honored to recognize his many 
accomplishments to our region, applaud his service to our entire 
Nation's aviation transportation system, and to call him a 
friend.

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