Mr. David Richardson

David Richardson is the Managing Director of Federal Affairs for Southwest Airlines. In this position, David oversees all of Southwest’s legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts before Congress and the numerous federal agencies and offices that impact the commercial aviation industry. He has been a proud Southwest employee since December 2006.

Prior to joining Southwest, David was Chief of Staff at the Maryland Aviation Administration, which owns and operates BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, and an attorney at Venable LLP in Baltimore. David has focused on transportation and economic development matters for over 30 years.

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. While working for Congresswoman Bentley (a.k.a. the “Godmother of the Port”), David rose from intern to staff assistant to legislative assistant. Upon Mrs. Bentley’s retirement from Congress in 1995, David was her principal aide for matters related to the commercial maritime industry, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Port of Baltimore.

Presently, David is the Vice Chair of the BWI Business Partnership and Past President of the Aero Club of Washington, as well as an active member and former Chair of the Government Affairs Council for Airlines for America (the U.S. airlines’ principal trade association). David also serves on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Transportation Infrastructure and Logistics Committee.​

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.​​