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Following a unanimous decision by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) Bureau, Congressman Gerald E. Connolly has been elected Acting President of the Assembly to fulfill the remainder of the 2024 presidential term. Former President Michal Szczerba’s term came to an end following his election to the European Parliament. Congressman Connolly’s appointment comes just weeks ahead of the NATO Parliamentary Leaders Summit and NATO Summit, both being hosted in Washington, D.C. the week of July 8th.

“With war raging in Europe and our shared democratic values under attack, this is a pivotal moment for the Alliance. NATO PA has an important role to play in shaping the future of transatlantic security,” said Connolly. “I want to thank Michal Szczerba for his service and his friendship over the years, and my deepest gratitude goes to our colleagues for once again trusting me to lead this vital organization.”

Connolly has been a member of NATO PA since 2013 and served as President from November 2020 to November 2022. He currently is a member of the Political Committee and a Vice-Chairperson of its Sub-Committee on NATO Partnerships.

Congressman Connolly is the US Representative for Virginia’s 11th District. He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2008. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation. Connolly is also a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Before his election to Congress, Connolly worked from 1979 to 1989 with the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, where he managed committee oversight of international economic issues, international narcotics control, and United Nations and Middle East policies, and published reports on U.S. policy in El Salvador, Central America, Israel, and the Persian Gulf region. From 1989 to 1997, he was Vice President of the Washington Office of SRI International. He was also Director of Community Relations for SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation). He served 14 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, including five years as Chairman.