Annie Russo
Airports Council International
Chief Political and Congressional Strategy Officer
NSSGA Advocacy Update / Government & Regulatory Affairs Meeting


Annie Russo joined ACI-NA in April 2008 and currently serves as the Chief Political and Congressional Strategy Officer. She develops and leads ACI-NA’s advocacy strategies on the many pressing legislative challenges facing the industry. Russo has led ACI-NA’s Government and Political Affairs department since September 2015.

Prior to ACI-NA, Russo served as Legislative Director for Rep. Albio Sires (D-N.J.), directing legislative policy and handling the congressman’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Financial Services Committee assignments.

Prior to joining Rep. Sires’ staff, she served as Senior Legislative Assistant to Rep. Steven Rothman (D-N.J.), assisting with his work on the Transportation Subcommittee of Appropriations and working closely with local airports on issues surrounding safety, noise reduction and airspace redesign. Russo spent her first three years on Capitol Hill working for Rep. John Olver (D-Mass.),who represents her hometown of South Deerfield, Mass.

Russo is a graduate of Smith College, with a degree in government and public policy, and also holds a master’s degree in national security studies from the Naval War College.

Chris Williamson
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Assistant Secretary
NSSGA Safety & Health Subcommittee


Christopher J. Williamson, MSHA’s Assistant Secretary, was appointed effective Monday, April 11, 2022.

Prior to this he was the senior counsel to National Labor Relations Board Chair Lauren McFerran. Mr. Williamson, a native of West Virginia, worked at MSHA during the Obama administration, advising the assistant secretary on agency policy, operations and communications. He also has served as labor counsel to former Senate HELP Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) and as a legislative assistant to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). He began his career in public service as an attorney-advisor to Administrative Law Judge Jacqueline R. Bulluck at the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.

Mr. Williamson earned a Juris Doctor from the West Virginia University College of Law, a Master of Public Policy from American University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from West Virginia University.