[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 76 (Thursday, May 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                   RECOGNIZING MR. CHRISTOPHER BROWNE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2018

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Mr. Christopher 
Browne in recognition of his contributions to Fairfax County and the 
Northern Virginia region and to congratulate him on being named the 
2017 Tower of Dulles Honoree by the Committee for Dulles.
   Mr. Browne currently serves as Deputy Director of the National Air 
and Space Museum, which has historically been the most popular 
Smithsonian Museum. Last year, 7.5 million people visited the National 
Air and Space Museum, and it is on track to meet or exceed those 
numbers in 2018.
   Prior to accepting this position, Mr. Browne was Vice President and 
Airport Manager for Washington Dulles International Airport, a position 
he assumed in 2005. This position was the culmination of a career in 
airport management, which began in 1988 when he joined the Metropolitan 
Washington Airports Authority as an Operations Manager at Washington 
National Airport. After seven years in that position, he was promoted 
to Airport Manager at National, a position he held until accepting the 
Airport Manager position at Washington Dulles. His 29-year tenure with 
MWAA was marked by periods of massive construction and expansion, as 
well as Y2K and the terrorist attacks of 9/11. During his time at 
Dulles, he was responsible not only for overseeing a staff of more than 
500, but also for managing a $400 million revenue stream, which 
included the profits from the Dulles Toll Road.
   These profits were a critical component in the financing of the 
Silver Line project, which will finally bring to fruition the vision of 
a rail link between our nation's capital and its premier international 
airport.
   Mr. Browne's tenure as airport manager of National and Dulles earned 
him multiple accolades, including being named Airport Manager of the 
Year in 2002. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Southeast 
Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives.
   Prior to entering civilian public service, Mr. Brown served his 
country in uniform in the United States Navy, where he served as a 
Naval Aviator for seven years aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. 
During his naval career he amassed over 1,400 flight hours, made over 
300 carrier landings, and graduated from the Navy's prestigious ``Top 
Gun'' Fighter Weapons School.
   Mr. Speaker, Christopher Browne represents the very ethos of service 
to the community and our country. In addition to his multi-decade 
career with the Navy and MWAA, Mr. Browne serves on the Board of 
Directors of the Special Olympics of Virginia, as well as on the Boards 
of several area Chambers of Commerce. Mr. Brown has selflessly 
dedicated himself and his career to the betterment of our community, 
and his efforts are truly worthy of our highest praise. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in congratulating Christopher Browne on his 
accomplishments, and in thanking him for his immeasurable contributions 
to our community.

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