Michael D. Barnes: President Emeritus and Senior Advisor to the Board

Former Maryland Congressman Michael D. Barnes acted as President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (formerly Handgun Control) and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence (formerly the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence), for six years with his term ending in July of 2006. Continuing a long career of public service he will remain involved as President Emeritus and Senior Advisor to the Board.

From 1979 to 1987, Mr. Barnes served in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his tenure, he chaired the House Sub-Committee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, championing human rights and democracy as civil wars raged in Central America. Mr. Barnes also led the national fight against drunk driving, working closely with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. A former Marine, Mr. Barnes graduated from the University of North Carolina and received his J.D. from George Washington University Law School.

After leaving Congress, Mr. Barnes continued to involve himself in national and international issues as a partner in the law firm of Hogan & Hartson. He served as the principal international advocate for the successful restoration of democracy in Haiti, and as counsel for the governments of Chile, Cyprus, Panama and South Korea. He also served as Chairman of the Center for National Policy; as Co-Chairman of the NAFTA Congressional Caucus and Forum; as Co-Chairman of the U.S. Committee for the United Nations Development Programme; and as Chairman of the U.S.-Panama Business Council.

During his six-year tenure, Mike shepherded the merger with the Million Mom March Chapters to help make our movement stronger and more effective. He oversaw our name change from Handgun Control, Inc. to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence to the Brady Center. Mike also led a dramatic expansion of the Brady Center's litigation against the gun industry, leading to precedent-setting victories in the courts of New Jersey, Ohio and Indiana, court-ordered reform of gun dealers in California, and over $4 million in damages recovered for gun violence victims.

The Brady Campaign and Brady Center thank Mike for his six years of dedicated service.