"Mike Barnes brings a wealth of public and private sector experience to the [Metro] board as the organisation transitions to a new form of governance, the leadership of a new general manager and the addition of new board members from our neighbouring jurisdictions," O'Malley said in a statement. "He has witnessed the evolution of Metro since its earliest days and was a strong supporter during his time in Congress. He understands Metro's past and has a clear vision of where the organisation needs to go in the future regarding the key issues of safety, customer service and the maintenance of the system."

The board is supposed to consist of eight members and eight alternates from the District, Maryland, Virginia and the federal government. The appointment is for a three-year term.

Michael Darr Barnes was a member of Congress from 1979-1987, representing Maryland’s 8th Congressional district. During his term, Barnes chaired the Metropolitan Affairs Subcommittee of the House District of Columbia Committee. From 2000 through 2006, he was the president of the Brady Campaign gun control organisation.

Before his Congressional term, M. D. Barnes served as Vice Chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission and served on the Maryland Public Service Commission. Since leaving Congress, he has practiced law and has stayed active in the political realm by serving on various committees and organisations. He is currently a senior fellow at the Centre for International Policy in Washington, DC as well as governance committee chairman, of WGL Holdings Inc. and its subsidiary, Washington Gas Light Co.

M. D. Barnes earned his B.A. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and attended the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. He attained his J.D. from George Washington University.