Air Force museum director to retire

  • Published
DAYTON, Ohio (AFNS) --  Air Force officials announced Oct. 28 that retired Maj. Gen. Charles D. Metcalf will retire as director of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force effective Dec. 31.

General Metcalf will retire after 14 years as the museum's director. Prior to joining the museum, he served for nearly 36 years on active duty in a variety of financial management and planning positions, retiring in 1991 in the grade of major general.

He has held the position of museum director since 1996. In this job, he manages the world's largest and oldest military aviation museum, portraying the heritage and traditions of the Air Force through specialized exhibits. He provides technical and professional guidance to the U. S. Air Force Heritage Program which includes 12 Air Force field museums and 260 domestic and international heritage sites.

Additionally, he ensures accountability for more than 6,000 historical artifacts and aerospace vehicles on loan to more than 450 civilian museums, cities, municipalities and veterans' organizations throughout the world.

During his tenure as director, General Metcalf has increased museum attendance from 800,000 to nearly 1.4 million visitors and achieved the highest national recognition for a museum, the American Association of Museums accreditation in 1998 and gained reaccreditation in 2008.

He has expanded museum facilities including a 200,000-square-foot Cold War Gallery and a 60,000-square-foot Missile Gallery. General Metcalf supported a major capital construction program to enlarge the museum's current 1 million square feet of exhibit space, with a new 200,000-square-foot building to feature a Space Gallery, Presidential Aircraft Interpretive Center and the Global Reach Gallery.

A replacement for General Metcalf has not yet been announced.

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. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.  Admission and parking are free.