JAMES E. BENNETT TO RECEIVE 2008 TOWER OF DULLES
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The Committee for Dulles has announced that it will present the Tower of Dulles to James E. Bennett, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority at its 42nd Anniversary Gala on November 7, 2008 at Lansdowne Resort in Lansdowne, Virginia.
The Tower of Dulles is given for meritorious service provided for the betterment of Washington Dulles Airport and the Dulles Economic Corridor and is the highest recognition offered by the Committee for Dulles.
Mr. Bennett is a worthy recipient of this honor. He has served as President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority since 2003. During his tenure air service at Dulles has expanded significantly. In 2007 alone, five new airlines launched service at Dulles and expanded international service led to a record 6 million international passengers at Dulles. Mr. Bennett has guided the Authority through the nearly $3 billion dollars investment in expansion of Dulles Airport facilities to accommodate this increased air service and passenger volume. These improvements include a new traffic control tower, an expansion of Concourse B, renovation of the main terminal, two new parking garages, and improvements to the access highway. In November a new runway will open, the Airports fourth and the first new runway since the Airport opened in 1962. The AeroTrain underground airport train system is currently undergoing testing and is scheduled to begin service next year.
Also of crucial importance to the Committee, under Mr. Bennett's leadership, the Airports Authority agreed to operate the Dulles Toll Road and manage the construction of the new Metrorail line to Loudoun County. This long-awaited project is supported by the vast majority of the region's citizens and businesses and is essential to the economic success of Dulles Airport and the surrounding community.
Past recipients include former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole; Governors Mark Warner, Linwood Holton, and Mills Godwin; Senators Chuck Robb and John Warner; Congressman Frank Wolf ; Steven F. U&dvar-Hazy, NASM Hazy Center patron; and James Wilding, former MWAA President and CEO.
The 42nd Anniversary Gala will be held at Lansdowne Resort on November 7, 2008. The keynote Speaker will be Robert A. Sturgell, Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, U. S. Department of Transportation. Major sponsors of the event include Turner Construction, Parsons Management Consultants, Fentress Architects, Dewberry, ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC, and Arrowbrook Center. More information about the event, reservations, and sponsorship opportunities can be found at www.committeefordulles.org or by calling the Gala's Chair, Mary Waters, 703-581-1700.
The Committee for Dulles is The Committee for Dulles is the oldest member-supported organization promoting Washington Dulles International Airport. Founded in 1966, the Committee continues to energetically represent the interest of business and individuals in the vital growth and development of the airport and its immediate market area.