Printable Version
Tell a friend
County Council Member, Maryland , District #3
Contact Information
Mike Knapp
100 Maryland Ave, 6th Floor
Rockville, Maryland 20850
240-777-7955
Councilmember. Knapp@montgomerycountymd.govhttp://www.mikeknapp.com/
Committees: Chair, Homeland Security Committee
Member, Education Committee
Member: Public Safety Committee, Lead for Fire and Rescue Services
Bio
Mike Knapp was elected to the County Council on
November 5, 2002, to represent the Upcounty and
western areas of Montgomery County, including
the communities of Olney, Germantown,
Montgomery Village, and Poolesville. He is the
Chair of the Council's newly formed Homeland
Security Committee, a member of the Council's
Education Committee and also serves on the
Public Safety Committee as lead Councilmember
for Fire and Rescue Services. A Democrat, Knapp
comes to the Council from a distinguished
career in public service and in the private
sector. As a high schooler, he interned for
Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York.
After his internship, he attended the College
of William and Mary in Virginia, graduating
with a Bachelor's degree in Economics and
Government. Upon graduation, Knapp was
commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United
States Army Reserves. He trained at Fort
Belvoir, Virginia, as an Engineer, and spent 10
years in the Reserves as an Engineer and
Infantry officer. Knapp worked as a legislative
assistant to Senator Pete Domenici of New
Mexico for five years starting in 1990. He
advised the Senator on issues related to
biotechnology, especially the Human Genome
Project, as well as on health care and social
issues. Knapp focused on increasing awareness
and funding for biotechnology and worked with
the Senator to ensure that those who suffer
from mental illness have access to the same
health insurance coverage as those who suffer
from other illnesses. Knapp also helped to
create the "Character Counts" legislation that
has helped Maryland to lead the nation in
laying a strong foundation for character
education in our schools. After moving to New
Mexico to help start two biotechnology
companies, Knapp returned to settle in
Germantown. He began to work for Dr. J. Craig
Venter as Vice President for External Affairs
at the Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR),
developing and expanding programs designed to
improve public understanding and awareness of
the biotechnology industry. After a year at
TIGR, Knapp became one of the founding
employees of Celera Genomics, one of the
fastest-growing biotech companies in history,
where he currently is retained as a business
development consultant. Knapp served on the
Board of Directors of the Germantown Alliance,
Black Rock Center for the Arts, and the
Committee for Montgomery. In addition, he is a
leader in Germantown HELP, the food bank that
serves local families in need. Knapp also is an
avid sports fan, a member of the Montgomery
County Road Runners Club, coaches youth soccer,
and has coached youth basketball. Knapp and his
wife Cassie reside in Germantown with their two
daughters Lindsay, and Sydney
