[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF MICHAEL LEONE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2012

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to 
Michael (Mike) Leone upon his retirement after nineteen years as the 
Port Director of Boston at the Massachusetts Port Authority. As 
Director of the Port of Boston, Mike oversaw the operation and 
management of the public marine facilities in the Port of Boston, 
including Conley Container Terminal, Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, 
Boston Fish Pier, Boston Autoport, Foreign Trade Zones, and other 
supporting maritime infrastructure.
  In addition, Mike lead the way in implementing business and marketing 
strategies that directly lead to the increase in the volume of cargo 
and passengers moving over all marine terminals, which generates an 
annual economic benefit of $2.5 billion dollars and accounts for over 
34,000 jobs. While managing an organization of 120 employees and over 
200 members of the International Longshoremen's Association, Mike also 
directed the operations, maintenance, and security at Massport's 
commercial properties including nearly 30 acres of public parks, 
numerous roads, hotels, office buildings, apartments, and marinas.
  Mr. Speaker, Mike Leone has also played an important role in the 
development and operation of Massport properties in and around the 
South Boston waterfront as that area evolves into a waterfront 
destination. As Director, Mike was instrumental in turning Boston into 
a major hub for cruise ship traffic, in part by expanding and 
modernizing the Black Falcon terminal. In 1998 approximately 106,000 
passengers came through the Black Falcon terminal; today, the number of 
passengers is on track to set a new record of roughly 350,000 this 
year.
  During the course of his time at Massport, Mike was a leader of the 
American Association of Port Authority (AAPA). AAPA is the principal 
advocate of 160 public port authorities in the United States, Canada, 
Latin America, and the Caribbean. Mike first served as Chairman of the 
Board for the AAPA in 2003 and was elected again as Chairman of the 
Board in 2009, becoming the first person in the Association's 97 year 
history to serve for a second term.
  Mr. Speaker, Mike Leone also proudly served in the United States 
Coast Guard, leading a team of attorneys that provided legal advice and 
counsel to all Coast Guard commands in New England, New York, and New 
Jersey. Ultimately, Mike was appointed as the deputy regional counsel 
for the Coast Guard's Great Lakes operations and also served as Chief 
Operating Officer for all Coast Guard activities in the Port of New 
York, Hudson River, and Lake Champlain.
  Mr. Leone is a graduate of The National Law Center at George 
Washington University, where he received his Juris Doctor with Honors. 
He attended the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, 
Connecticut, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Management with 
Honors.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents and a grateful maritime 
association, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the accomplishments of a true public servant who selflessly 
dedicated his life to the service of our country and equally important 
as a key figure in maritime security and operations.
  I cannot thank him enough for everything he has done to protect our 
Nation's waterways and the millions of Americans who live, work, and 
visit them every day. This Congress and our Nation owe Mike a debt of 
gratitude for his commitment to maritime security and his leadership at 
the Massachusetts Port Authority.

                          ____________________