[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 58 (Monday, April 23, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING ANTHONY H. ``TONY'' GRIFFIN ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 
                 RETIREMENT AS FAIRFAX COUNTY EXECUTIVE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 23, 2012

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and 
commend Anthony H. ``Tony'' Griffin on the occasion of his retirement 
after a decorated career in public service, which culminated with his 
12-year tenure as the County Executive in Fairfax County, Va., the 
largest local jurisdiction here in the National Capital Region.
  Tony began his public service with the U.S. Marine Corps, where he 
served as an officer during the Vietnam War. He brought the 
collaborative, can-do spirit from his military experience to local 
government, where he served in managerial positions with Arlington 
County and the City of Falls Church before joining Fairfax County in 
1989. I had the great pleasure of working with Tony throughout my 14 
years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, particularly during 
my 5 years as Chairman.
  His accomplishments are many, but let me cite just a few to convey 
the magnitude of the profound benefit he has brought to our community 
and our region. One of the earlier initiatives on which we worked 
closely was a strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness. Thanks to 
Tony's support and the efforts of staff, we held a community summit and 
created a partnership consisting of the faith, non-profit, business and 
civic communities. The Board created a standalone position to 
coordinate prevention efforts and adopted a 10-year Plan to Prevent and 
End Homelessness. Today, Fairfax is one of the few jurisdictions in the 
nation that has seen its homeless population decline in the midst of 
the worst economic recession since the Great Depression.
  Tony also has been instrumental in transforming our one-time bedroom 
community into the economic engine of the Commonwealth of Virginia and 
the National Capital Region. Fairfax is now home to more than 1 million 
people and nearly 600,000 jobs. Under Tony's leadership, Fairfax County 
was named the ``best managed jurisdiction in America'' by Governing 
Magazine, and the county has consistently retained its AAA bond rating. 
Throughout his tenure in Fairfax, Tony has steadily worked to advance 
the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, which will finally link the 
Washington, DC, Metro system with the region's premier international 
gateway, Dulles International Airport. It is one of the largest public 
works projects in the nation, and Tony has collaborated with local, 
state and federal stakeholders to ensure its success. As an extension 
of that effort, Tony also oversaw the replanning of Tysons Corner, the 
region's premier retail and commercial center. After a multi-year, 
community-centered effort, the County Board adopted a new vision plan 
that will transform the collection of disparate office parks into a 
walkable, transit-oriented, mixed-use community. That effort won 
national recognition from the American Planning Association.
  Perhaps Tony's most lasting achievement will be his effort to 
establish a model of regional cooperation for emergency management. As 
Chair of the Chief Administrative Officers Committee of the 
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Tony coordinated local 
government decisions and responses to a myriad of incidents. His 
leadership was invaluable during the events of 9/11, in which his calm 
leadership helped assure the delivery of essential government services 
throughout that tragedy. Under his leadership, the CAO Committee 
established a new framework to foster better collaboration and 
cooperation among the 17 local governments, two states and the District 
of Columbia that comprise the National Capital Region. Those efforts 
proved particularly vital during the 2001 anthrax incidents, the 2002 
regional sniper attacks, the 2009 presidential inauguration, and 2010's 
historic snowstorms.
  Tony's leadership has been recognized nationally by his peers. The 
American Society of Public Administration honored him with its Stone 
Practitioner Award for his commitment to improve intergovernmental 
cooperation. He also was appointed by Homeland Security Secretary Janet 
Napolitano to the local, state, tribal and federal Preparedness Task 
Force, which is assessing the state of preparedness and recommending 
actions to build resiliency for communities across America.
  Beyond those accomplishments, I want to recognize Tony's efforts to 
inspire the county's workforce and to recruit and train the next 
generation of public servants. During his tenure in Fairfax, he 
initiated partnerships with the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service 
at the University of Virginia, the George Mason University Fellows 
Program, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Regional 
Program of Excellence with George Washington University, and the 
Council's Project Manager Certification Program and Supervisory 
Development Training. So while we will surely miss having him here day-
to-day in Fairfax County, his presence will continue to be felt here 
and in communities throughout our region and our nation.
  Mr. Speaker, Tony Griffin's commitment to our community, the county 
workforce, our residents, and the mission of local government are 
unparalleled, and he leaves behind a legacy that will enrich our 
community for generations to come. His career in public service, 
beginning with his service in the Marine Corps, is truly commendable 
and deserving of our heartfelt gratitude. When I was Chairman of the 
County Board, I often used to joke with Tony at retirement 
announcements that we should not allow retirement for such talented and 
dedicated staff. I certainly wish that was the case here. I wish Tony, 
his wife and family the best of luck in his retirement, and I ask my 
colleagues in the House to join me in expressing our appreciation for 
his commitment and service to this community and our nation.

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