Officials announce new Air Force museum director

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DAYTON, Ohio (AFNS) --  Air Force officials announced Dec. 2 the assignment of Senior Executive Service member and retired Lt. Gen. John "Jack" L. Hudson as director of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, effective Dec. 16.

He will replace Senior Executive Service member and retired Maj. Gen. Charles D. Metcalf, who will retire Dec. 31.  General Hudson currently serves as deputy director of the museum.  Prior to retiring and joining the museum, General Hudson served as commander of the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson AFB.

"It is an honor to be selected as the next museum director and to have the opportunity to help move the museum forward on the foundation that General Metcalf built so well," General Hudson said. "These are exciting times at the museum, with plans for growth of museum exhibit space, potential for enhanced educational programs and the possibility of acquiring a space shuttle orbiter and associated artifacts."

As director, General Hudson will manage the museum's 17-acre campus that includes more than 1 million square feet of public exhibit space, more than 500 aerospace vehicles and 78,000 artifacts.

He also will provide technical and professional guidance to officials with 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.

A change-of-director ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 16 at the museum.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located on Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.  Admission and parking are free.