New director takes the lead at National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Published Dec. 16, 2010
By Sarah Swan
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

DAYTON, Ohio -- Leadership of the Air Force's national museum changed hands during a ceremony on Dec. 16, 2010, as retired Air Force Lt. Gen. John "Jack" L. Hudson became director of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

General Hudson took the reins from retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles D. Metcalf, who is retiring after serving as museum director for the past 14 years. Lt. Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, vice commander of Air Force Materiel Command, presided over the change of director ceremony.

"It is an honor to be selected as the next museum director and have the opportunity to help move the museum forward on the foundation that the museum team has built," said General Hudson, who has served as the museum's deputy director for the past year. "The museum is a successful operation with a great staff, and I hope to help bring it to even greater heights."

As director, General Hudson will manage the museum's 17-acre campus that includes nearly 1 million square feet of public exhibit space, more than 500 aerospace vehicles and 78,000 artifacts. He will also provide technical and professional guidance to the U.S. Air Force Heritage Program, which includes 12 field museums and 260 domestic and international heritage sites, accounting for nearly 43,000 items on loan.

Additionally, he will ensure accountability for more than 6,400 historical artifacts and aerospace vehicles on loan to 474 civilian museums, cities, municipalities and veterans' organizations throughout the world.

Some of General Hudson's top priorities include obtaining a space shuttle orbiter, constructing the fourth museum building, and incorporating more of today's emerging technology to stay relevant with today's visitors both at the museum and online.

"Adding a shuttle is our number one exhibit priority, which would be part of an expanded Space Gallery in the fourth building, along with our Presidential Aircraft Interpretive Center and Global Reach Gallery," General Hudson said. "I also look forward to enhancing the museum's educational and online capabilities, including the virtual tour."

Following the change of director ceremony, former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman presided over a retirement ceremony for General Metcalf.

During his tenure as director, General Metcalf increased museum attendance from 800,000 to more than 1.3 million visitors and achieved the highest national recognition for a museum, the American Association of Museums accreditation in 1998 and reaccreditation in 2008. He expanded museum facilities to include a 200,000-square-foot Cold War Gallery and a 60,000-square-foot Missile Gallery. General Metcalf also supported a major capital construction program to enlarge the museum's exhibit space with a fourth building.

"Looking back over my time as director of this great institution, it is hard to believe the changes that have occurred in the past 14 years," General Metcalf said. "With our highly-qualified staff, we have moved the museum forward by transforming our focus from hardware to telling the stories of Air Force men and women. I'm proud of all we've accomplished, and I look forward to watching the museum continue to thrive in the future."