posted 09-20-2017 11:36 AM               

Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Director Announces Retirement

Gen. Dailey Retires After 18 Years at Country's Most Visited Museum

Gen. J.R. "Jack" Dailey, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, will retire in January 2018. With 18 years as head of the museum, he is its longest-serving director. Dailey, a retired U.S. Marine Corps four-star general and pilot, assumed the duties of director in January 2000. As head of the museum, Dailey has led efforts to expand its size and scope, maintaining its status among the most visited museums in the world.

"Gen. Dailey has served the Smithsonian and the nation with honor, distinction and enthusiasm," said Smithsonian Secretary David Skorton. "He has led the National Air and Space Museum through an ambitious multiyear expansion while advancing its visibility, strengthening its world-class collection and advancing both onsite and online programs."

Under his leadership, the museum opened its second location, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, in 2003. Located in Chantilly, Va., the Udvar-Hazy Center houses over 300 aircraft and spacecraft in its two public display hangars and includes the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar, the Emil Buehler Conservation Laboratory and collections storage space. The opening of the Udvar-Hazy Center allowed for much more of the collection to be displayed, including icons like the Enola Gay, Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird and a Concorde.

In April 2012, Dailey and the museum welcomed Space Shuttle Discovery, the longest-serving orbiter, into the collection. Its arrival to the Udvar-Hazy Center was one of the most popular events in the museum's history, garnering attention from national and international audiences, as well as locals "spotting the shuttle."

The Udvar-Hazy Center was funded solely through private support. Dailey was instrumental in the fundraising efforts for this and the many other major museum projects and initiatives. Since his appointment as director, the museum has raised over $350 million from private contributions.

With Dailey at the helm, 35 exhibitions opened in the museum's building in Washington, D.C., including "America by Air," "The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age" and "The Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight Gallery." The flagship building celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2016 with the reopening of the "Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall."

In support of the Smithsonian's long-range planning efforts, Dailey has led expansion of the museum's public programs and its web and distance-learning activities. Sharing the museum's collection, expertise and educational initiatives beyond its buildings' walls has been a top priority in recent years. Nearly all lectures at the museum are broadcast for online audiences, the museum's GO FLIGHT app interacts seamlessly with the collection records and exhibitions, and "STEM in 30," a 30-minute educational webcast series that launched in 2015, reaches schools around the country.

The Smithsonian has formed a committee to conduct a search for the museum's next director. Under Secretary for Museums and Research/Provost John Davis will oversee the process.

posted 09-27-2017 11:22 AM               

Gen. J.R. "Jack" Dailey Honored with 2017 Wright Trophy

The National Aeronautic Association is pleased to announce that General J.R. "Jack" Dailey, USMC (Ret.), Director of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, has been selected as the recipient of the 2017 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy for ... "his courageous and dedicated service to the country and his commitment to sharing the history and technology of aviation and space flight with present and future generations."

Established by NAA in 1948 to honor the memory of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the trophy is awarded annually to a living American for "...significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States." One of the most important, historic, and visible aerospace awards in the world, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy reflects a timeline of the most innovative inventors, explorers, industrialists, and public servants in aeronautics and astronautics.

Dailey was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in June 1956. He completed Basic School at Quantico followed by flight training at Pensacola, and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1958. After two tours of Vietnam, Dailey returned to the United States and entered the National War College in 1975. After graduating, Dailey ascended through the ranks and in 1990 was promoted to General and assigned as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. In 1992, Dailey retired after 36 years of service. His operational experience included over 7,000 flying hours in fighters; light attack, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare aircraft; transports; and helicopters. Dailey also received numerous awards from the Marine Corps including the Distinguished Flying Cross.

After retiring from the Marine Corps, Dailey was recruited by NASA to serve as Deputy Administrator and given the task of restructuring the agency. While at NASA, he served on the President's Management Council, co-chaired the Aeronautics and Astronautics Coordinating Board, served as a national delegate to the Research and Technology Organization supporting NATO, and served on the National Air and Space Museum's Advisory Board.

In January 2000, Dailey began his third career as the Director of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, where he led the effort to expand the size and scope of the museum and increase public outreach. In 2003, in conjunction with the Centennial of Flight, the museum opened its second building, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

With Dailey at the helm, the museum has also opened eight new multi-million-dollar exhibitions in the original building, greatly expanded its public programming and outreach activities, focused its educational activities on STEM disciplines, and inspired countless visitors through sharing the history of aviation and space.

Jim Albaugh, Chairman of NAA and a member of the Selection Committee, praised the choice. "NAA congratulates General Dailey for his selection as the 2017 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy recipient. General Dailey's public service to aviation is well known and his contributions are numerous."

Dailey will be presented the trophy at the Aero Club of Washington's Wright Memorial Dinner on Friday, December 15, 2017.