New Director Announced For Armstrong Museum

The Armstrong Air and Space Museum Association announced the selection of Christopher Burton as the museum's new executive director. Burton, a native of Groveport, Ohio, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from Capital University. He earned a Master of Arts degree in public history from Wright State University.

While attending Wright State Burton worked as a graduate assistant in the university's art gallery working in collections management. He has also worked as an archives assistant at the National Museum of the US Air Force, Research Division and an archivist at the Kettering Foundation.

In 2008 Burton was curator and exhibit designer for a major baseball exhibit at the University of Dayton entitled Dayton at Bat! Most recently Burton has been an instructor of American History at National College in Kettering and the Mad River School District.

In addition, Burton finds time to volunteer as an interpreter with Dayton History and a member of the Clodbusters Vintage Base Ball Club. He has recently been elected to serve as secretary of the national Vintage Base Ball Association.

He is also a member of the Society of American Archivists, Ohio Historical Society, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Groveport Heritage and Preservation Society.

"We are excited to have Chris leading the Armstrong Museum," explained Association President John Zwez. "He has the training, experience and enthusiasm we need to begin local management of the museum. Plus, he has a life-long interest in aerospace. He became a space enthusiastic as a kid. He brings the right skills to the job. We could not be happier for Chris and the museum."

The Association has entered into a management agreement with the Ohio Historical Society to take over day-to-day operations of Armstrong Museum.

The museum will reopen to the public on April 1. The museum's hours through Memorial Day are Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day the museum expands its hours to include Mondays 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m

From: wcsm@bright.net Steve.Baker@WHIOTV.com