Tom Udall: “today I rise to acknowledge the service of Mr. Darrell R. Willson, who is retiring as the Administrator of the National…”

“today I rise to acknowledge the service of Mr. Darrell R. Willson, who is retiring as the Administrator of the National Gallery of Art in July after a 50-year career serving the public. Mr. Willson has spent the three past decades with the gallery overseeing the backbone of its operations--protecting and preserving its historic buildings, working to expand its footprint, and ensuring that it maintains a world-class staff. As an executive officer of the institution, he has worked closely with gallery leadership, executive branch officials and Congress--including with the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations--to ensure that the gallery has had the people and resources it needs to fulfill its mission. During his tenure, the gallery has completed more than $400 million worth of renovations to the East and West Buildings and welcomed visitors to new public spaces such as the Sculpture Gallery and the Andrew W. Mellon Memorial Fountain. In short, his work has provided the gallery with a stunning backdrop to showcase its collection of more than 150,000 sculptures, paintings, drawings, and photographs to the American public. His work with the National Gallery of Art is not the only contribution on Mr. Willson's resume that deserves recognition. Prior to joining the gallery, Mr. Willson worked for a decade at the Art Institute of Chicago, rising through the ranks to becom executive director of protective services.…”