David M Richardson

David Richardson is Director of Governmental Affairs for Southwest Airlines. In this position, David serves as Southwest’s chief advocate and principal liaison on Capitol Hill, as well as a senior attorney before several federal government agencies. He has represented Southwest in Washington, D.C., since December 2006. Prior to joining Southwest, David was Chief of Staff at the Maryland Aviation Administration, which owns and operates Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), and an attorney at Venable LLP in Baltimore. David has focused on transportation and economic development matters for nearly 25 years. Presently, David serves on the Board of Directors for the BWI Business Partnership and the Aero Club of Washington, DC. He is also the Chair of the Government Affairs Council of the airlines’ trade association (Airlines for America). In 2015, David was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan and confirmed by the State Senate to serve on the Maryland Port Commission, which oversees the Port of Baltimore and establishes policies toward improving the competitive position of the Port within the international maritime industry. His previous positions in public service include stints with then-Governor Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey and then-Congresswoman Helen Delich Bentley of Maryland. David has an undergraduate degree from American University, a master’s degree from George Washington University, and a law degree from the Catholic University of America.