Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Encyclopedia
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority ("MWAA" or "Authority") is an independent airport authority, created by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia with the consent of the United States Congress
to oversee management, operations, and capital development of Washington, D.C.
's two major airports: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
and Washington Dulles International Airport
. The Authority, which is an independent public body corporate and politic, leases the airports from the United States Department of Transportation. The United States government originally built the airports and continues to own the underlying airport property except for property acquired by MWAA subsequent to the lease. The Authority has its headquarters on the grounds of Reagan National Airport in Arlington County, Virginia
.
Though commonly considered one of Washington's
three major airports, Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
is not part of MWAA but is owned by the State of Maryland
, operated through the Maryland Aviation Administration
, which purchased then "Friendship Airport" from the City of Baltimore in 1972.
MWAA was also a founding member of the Capital-to-Capital Coalition, the group which successfully advocated for the awarding the right to operate a non-stop flight between Beijing, China and Washington, D.C.
and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
(formerly known as Washington National Airport) were transferred to MWAA under a 50-year lease authorized by the United States Congress in the Metropolitan Washington Airports Act of 1986, Title VI of Public Law 99-500. Prior to the transfer, the airports were owned and operated by the federal government through the Federal Aviation Administration
in the United States Department of Transportation
. By operation of the transfer act, all property owned by the FAA at the airports was transferred to the new Authority, with the Federal government retaining title to the lease. The original 50 year lease has been extended to 80 years, expiring in June, 2067. Information about MWAA and the airports is available at MWAA Official Website.
with five members appointed by the Governor of Virginia
, three by the Mayor of Washington, D.C., two by the Governor of Maryland
and three by the President of the United States
.
As of July 2011, the Chair of the Board of Directors is Charles D. Snelling, a presidential appointee, with former Congressman Tom Davis serving as Vice Chair. Leading the Management of the Authority is President
and Chief Executive Officer
John E. Potter
, who took office on July 11, 2011, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Margaret E. McKeough. Potter was appointed to the post after a nation-wide search was conducted for a permanent President and CEO after the retirement of then-President and CEO Jim Bennett in April 2010. Former CFO
Lynn Hampton was appointed as interim President and CEO on April 13, 2010 for the period while the nation-wide search was being conducted. She was eventually replaced by Potter
as President and CEO by the Board of Directors on July 11,2011. Each airport operated by MWAA is under the direction of a Vice President and Airport Manager. Christopher Browne is Vice President and Airport Manager for Washington Dulles International Airport
while J. Paul Malandrino, Jr. is Vice President and Airport Manager for Reagan National Airport
.
, and Fairfax County police also exercise police power over the airport property within their respective jurisdiction including the Dulles Airport Access Highway and the Dulles Toll Road. Virginia law also grants concurrent jurisdiction to the Arlington County Police
for Reagan National Airport.
The Authority also has a full-service Fire & Rescue Department that operates at both Dulles and National Airports. The Authority's Fire & Rescue Department provides a wide range of services to the airports including aircraft rescue firefighting in accordance with the standards of the Federal Aviation Adminsitration, structural firefighting, emergency medical services (basic and advanced life support) and river rescue (at National Airport). The Authority's Fire & Rescue Department will also provide mutual-aid services to the surrounding jurisdictions, as needed, under a Memorandum of Understanding signed by several jurisdictions in Northern Virginia. As an example, firefighters from National Airport were among the first responders to the Pentagon following the crash of American Airlines Flight 77
on September 11, 2001.
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
to oversee management, operations, and capital development of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
's two major airports: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport located south of downtown Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. It is the commercial airport nearest to Washington, D.C. For many decades, it was called Washington National Airport, but this airport was renamed in 1998 to...
and Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
. The Authority, which is an independent public body corporate and politic, leases the airports from the United States Department of Transportation. The United States government originally built the airports and continues to own the underlying airport property except for property acquired by MWAA subsequent to the lease. The Authority has its headquarters on the grounds of Reagan National Airport in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
.
Though commonly considered one of Washington's
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
three major airports, Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is an international airport serving the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area in the United States. It is commonly called BWI, BWI Airport or BWI Marshall, BWI being an initialism for "Baltimore/Washington International" and the...
is not part of MWAA but is owned by the State of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, operated through the Maryland Aviation Administration
Maryland Aviation Administration
The Maryland Aviation Administration is a state agency of Maryland and an airport authority under the jurisdiction of the Maryland Department of Transportation. The agency controls Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Martin State Airport...
, which purchased then "Friendship Airport" from the City of Baltimore in 1972.
MWAA was also a founding member of the Capital-to-Capital Coalition, the group which successfully advocated for the awarding the right to operate a non-stop flight between Beijing, China and Washington, D.C.
History
The Authority was created by the Commonwealth of Virginia (1985 Acts of Assembly, Ch 598, as amended) and the District of Columbia (Regional Airports Authority Act of 1985, as amended). On June 7, 1987, Washington Dulles International AirportWashington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport located south of downtown Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. It is the commercial airport nearest to Washington, D.C. For many decades, it was called Washington National Airport, but this airport was renamed in 1998 to...
(formerly known as Washington National Airport) were transferred to MWAA under a 50-year lease authorized by the United States Congress in the Metropolitan Washington Airports Act of 1986, Title VI of Public Law 99-500. Prior to the transfer, the airports were owned and operated by the federal government through the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
in the United States Department of Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
. By operation of the transfer act, all property owned by the FAA at the airports was transferred to the new Authority, with the Federal government retaining title to the lease. The original 50 year lease has been extended to 80 years, expiring in June, 2067. Information about MWAA and the airports is available at MWAA Official Website.
Governing Body
The authority is governed by a 13-member Board of DirectorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
with five members appointed by the Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
, three by the Mayor of Washington, D.C., two by the Governor of Maryland
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
and three by the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
.
As of July 2011, the Chair of the Board of Directors is Charles D. Snelling, a presidential appointee, with former Congressman Tom Davis serving as Vice Chair. Leading the Management of the Authority is President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
John E. Potter
John E. Potter
John E. "Jack" Potter is the current President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority since July 18, 2011. He is the former United States Postmaster General and CEO of the United States Postal Service , having become the 72nd Postmaster General on June 1, 2001.-Early postal...
, who took office on July 11, 2011, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
Margaret E. McKeough. Potter was appointed to the post after a nation-wide search was conducted for a permanent President and CEO after the retirement of then-President and CEO Jim Bennett in April 2010. Former CFO
Chief financial officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
Lynn Hampton was appointed as interim President and CEO on April 13, 2010 for the period while the nation-wide search was being conducted. She was eventually replaced by Potter
John E. Potter
John E. "Jack" Potter is the current President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority since July 18, 2011. He is the former United States Postmaster General and CEO of the United States Postal Service , having become the 72nd Postmaster General on June 1, 2001.-Early postal...
as President and CEO by the Board of Directors on July 11,2011. Each airport operated by MWAA is under the direction of a Vice President and Airport Manager. Christopher Browne is Vice President and Airport Manager for Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
while J. Paul Malandrino, Jr. is Vice President and Airport Manager for Reagan National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport located south of downtown Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. It is the commercial airport nearest to Washington, D.C. For many decades, it was called Washington National Airport, but this airport was renamed in 1998 to...
.
Dulles Access Highway
MWAA's lease encompasses the Dulles Access Highway right-of-way. The Dulles Airport Access Highway serves traffic to and from Dulles Airport only. Since 2008, MWAA owns the Dulles Toll Road, the outer lanes of the right-of-way which were built by the Virginia Department of Transportation, use of which is subject to a toll. However, the inner lanes of the Access Highway are free of charge for drivers going directly between Dulles Airport and the surrounding area.Police and Fire
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has its own, full-service, state (Virginia) accredited police department which patrols airport properties and grounds, including the Dulles Airport Access Highway, the Dulles Toll Road and the area 300 yards surrounding the airports. The Virginia State PoliceVirginia State Police
Virginia State Police is a state agency, conceived in 1919 and established in 1932, that acts as the state police force for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The agency originated out of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles as an inspector and enforcer of highway laws...
, and Fairfax County police also exercise police power over the airport property within their respective jurisdiction including the Dulles Airport Access Highway and the Dulles Toll Road. Virginia law also grants concurrent jurisdiction to the Arlington County Police
Arlington County Police Department (Virginia)
The Arlington County Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency servicing 207,627 people within of jurisdiction within Arlington County, VA.-History:...
for Reagan National Airport.
The Authority also has a full-service Fire & Rescue Department that operates at both Dulles and National Airports. The Authority's Fire & Rescue Department provides a wide range of services to the airports including aircraft rescue firefighting in accordance with the standards of the Federal Aviation Adminsitration, structural firefighting, emergency medical services (basic and advanced life support) and river rescue (at National Airport). The Authority's Fire & Rescue Department will also provide mutual-aid services to the surrounding jurisdictions, as needed, under a Memorandum of Understanding signed by several jurisdictions in Northern Virginia. As an example, firefighters from National Airport were among the first responders to the Pentagon following the crash of American Airlines Flight 77
American Airlines Flight 77
American Airlines Flight 77 was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight, from Washington Dulles International Airport, in Dulles, Virginia to Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California...
on September 11, 2001.