Aviation Department 1st John Harris Named Project Manager for O'Hare Expansion Proposal

The City of Chicago has appointed Department of Aviation 1st Deputy Commissioner John F. Harris as Project Manager to oversee Mayor Richard M. Daley's proposal for the future of O'Hare. As Project Manager, Harris will be responsible for every aspect of implementing the Mayor Daley's proposal, including design, financing and construction. Harris was named Aviation 1st Deputy Commissioner in March 1999. Before then, he was Deputy Superintendent, Bureau of Administrative Services, Chicago Police Department, responsible for overall administrative and financial management of the nation's second largest police force with an annual operating budget of $900 million.

John Harris previously served the Department of Aviation as Chief-of-Staff and Assistant Commissioner of Intergovernmental Affairs. He coordinated airport development, finance and planning for Midway and O'Hare Airports. He coordinated aviation legislation advancing the City's position on international and bi-lateral negotiations and was instrumental in the initial planning phases of the Midway Terminal Development Program and O'Hare's Capital Improvement Program.

He also served as the first Executive Director for the Chicago-Gary Regional Airport Authority in 1995.

Mr. Harris is a graduate from Loyola University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University.