Air Force museum receives highest national recognition Published Aug. 13, 2008 By Sarah Parke National Museum of the U.S. Air Force DAYTON, Ohio (AFPN) -- The National Museum of the United States Air Force has again achieved accreditation by American Association of Museums officials. It is the highest national recognition a museum can receive. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies and to the museum-going public. The museum initially was accredited in 1998. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every ten years to maintain accredited status. Of the nation's nearly 17,500 museums, about 775, or 4 percent, are currently accredited, and only about 2 percent of specialized museums, such as museums concentrating in aviation, hold this honor. "Receiving reaccreditation further solidifies the Air Force's museum as one of national prominence and prestige," said museum director Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Charles D. Metcalf. "The commitment of the board, staff, volunteers and foundation to uphold the highest standards of the museum practice is shown with this award." AAM accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for 35 years, AAM's museum accreditation program is the field's primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation and public accountability. Accreditation strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely and remain financially and ethically accountable in order to provide the best possible service to the public. It is a very rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum's operations. To earn accreditation, museum officials first must conduct a year of self-study then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. AAM's accreditation commission, an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals, consider the self-study and visiting committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation. While the time to complete the process varies by museum, it generally takes as much as three years. Accreditation commission members commended the museum staff for their successful evolution of the commission's interpretation, since the last review, moving from technology-driven stories to those of individuals and their connections to aviation history. The AAM has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. With more than 15,000 individual, 3,000 institutional and 300 corporate members, AAM is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements of the human experience, past, present and future. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org. The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located on Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. It is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page