Walter A. Grudzinskas is the Director, Air Force History and Museums, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He provides policy and guidance to four key components of the Air Force history program: the Air Force Historical Research Agency; the Air Force Museums; the Historical Studies Office; and the worldwide history program.
The Historical Research Agency, located at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, maintains the 100 million pages of official Air Force archives. The National Museum of the USAF, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, which hosts more than 1.5 million visitors a year, collects, restores and displays air and space craft, a legacy that spans more than a century of military flight. The Historical Studies Office, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., produces books, provides research facilities and organizes exhibits of historical value to the Air Force. The worldwide history program consists of more than 200 Air Force historians. They write the annual wing, numbered air force and major command histories that document all Air Force activities. Mr. Grudzinskas also serves as the historical adviser to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff.
Mr. Grudzinskas entered the Air Force in 1977 through the Air Force Basic Military Training School, Lackland AFB, Texas. From November 1977 through February 1984, Mr. Grudzinskas was a firefighter at Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines and Beale AFB, California. In 1984, he joined the Air Force History Program.
Before joining civil service in 2007, Mr. Grudzinskas completed a 30-year Air Force career, retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant. His last active duty assignment was Assistant for Manpower, Readiness and Personnel, Office of Air Force History. During his career, Mr. Grudzinskas has served at the Headquarters Air Force, Field Operating Agency, Numbered Air Force and wing levels.
EDUCATION
1981 Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, University of Nebraska at Omaha
1991 Associate Degree, Fire Science, Community College of the Air Force.
1991 Associate Degree, Aerospace History, Community College of the Air Force.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1.February 1978 - March 1983, Firefighter, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines. (October 1979-January 1980, Junior Enlisted Advisor, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing)
2. March 1983 - March 1984, Firefighter, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base, California.
3. March 1983 - December 1986, Historian, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base, California.
4. December 1985-December 1986, Historian, 51st Tactical Fighter Wing/7th Air Force, Osan Air Base, Korea.
5. December 1986 - December 1989, Historian, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base, California.
6. January 1990 - August 1992-Historian, Joint Services SERE Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
7. August 1992 - September 1993-Research Historian, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington D.C.
8. September 1993 - September 1994, Historian, 51st Fighter Wing/7th Air Force, Osan Air Base, Korea.
9. September 1994 - September 1998, Historian, 89th Airlift Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.
10. October 1998 - March 2000, Historian, Air Force History Support Office, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
11. March 2000 - July 2007, Assistant for Manpower, Readiness and Personnel, Office of Air Force History, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. 2007 - 2012, Deputy for Field History Programs, Office of Air Force History, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
13. 2013 - present, Director, Air Force History and Museums Policies and Programs, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
(Current as of February 2017)