The Museum of Flight has appointed Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar to the position of executive director of “Wings Over Washington,” a museum affiliate established in 1989 to recognize and enhance the historical and contemporary role of aviation and the aerospace industry in Washington, as well as support the museum’s education efforts.
Dunbar, who was president and CEO of the museum from 2005 to 2010, will focus on the development of the museum’s west-side campus, including fundraising for the new Space Gallery, future Air Transport Gallery and supporting the museum’s application for one of the retiring Space Shuttles. In addition, she will be working on a number of education initiatives with the goal of enhancing STEM education in the state of Washington. The Museum of Flight’s K-12 education programs currently reach 140,000 students each year. Dunbar will also assist in the private fundraising efforts of the Highline School District to locate their new Aviation High School on the campus of The Museum of Flight.
Wings Over Washington will report to the museum’s board of trustees through Mike Hallman, the museum’s interim president. A search is underway to recruit a new CEO and president.
Kevin Callaghan, chairman of The Museum of Flight Board of Trustees praised Dunbar’s commitment to her new role. “Bonnie Dunbar’s background as an astronaut and retired CEO of The Museum of Flight, coupled with her passion for promoting STEM education, uniquely qualifies her for a leadership role in the museum’s education initiatives. I am confident the activities she will be working on will have a significant impact on young people throughout the state.”
The non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest independent air and space museums in the world. Its collection includes more than 150 historically significant air- and spacecraft, as well as the William E. Boeing Red Barn — the original manufacturing facility of the Boeing Co. The J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing displays 28 World War I and World War II aircraft from the United States and other countries including Germany, Russia, and Japan. Over 30 aircraft representing the first century of aviation are displayed in the all-glass T.A. Wilson Great Gallery. The evolution of space flight and a look into the future are presented in the exhibit, Space: Exploring the New Frontier. The Airpark includes outdoor displays including the first jet Air Force One, a supersonic Concorde airliner and the prototype Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The museum’s aeronautical library and archival holdings are the largest on the West Coast.
For more information: 206-764-5720 or MuseumOfFlight.org.
