5 interesting facts about new director of Air Force museum

A new director has been appointed at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

Former Assistant Deputy Chief Management Officer for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, David Tillotson III, was recently appointed as the director of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Tillotson replaces Mr. Jack Hudson who retired on Oct. 5, after serving as director for nearly eight years.

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Tillotson will manage nearly one million square feet of exhibit space with more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles, and thousands of other artifacts.

Here are five things to know about Tillotson’s past:

1. Air Force Academy Tillotson was commissioned upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1975. His assignments included ground theater air control system units with Tactical Air Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe. He also earned a master's degree in international relations from the University of Pittburgh.

2. Leadership history Tillotson moved to the Air Force acquisition corps, where he initially served as the Deputy Mission Area Director, Information Dominance, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. His list of awards include: Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, among others.

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3. Continued service Later he was assigned to Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., as Chief of Experimentation with the Integrated Command and Control System Program Office, and was responsible for the Air Force's Joint Expeditionary Experiment series. Eventually, he became the System Program Director for the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Integration Program Office.

4. After retirement After his retirement from active duty, Tillotson served as Director in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Warfighting Integration, and as Deputy Chief Information Officer, HQ U.S. Air Force, before becoming the first Air Force Deputy Chief Management Officer for the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

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5. New beginnings "It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the director of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, and a privilege to be able to help guide this great institution," said Tillotson. "As the public's window to the Air Force, the museum is quite a gem and I look forward to working with the staff and volunteers as we carry out our mission to inspire visitors to learn and experience the Air Force story."

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