THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION

Preserve. Inspire. Educate.

MISSION

To inspire and educate by preserving the heritage of the United States Air Force through public engagement and a superior visitor experience.

VISION

To be the most visited aviation Museum in the Southeastern U.S.

The Museum of Aviation opened to the public on Friday, 9 November 1984 with 20 aircraft on display in an open field and another 20 were in various stages of restoration. The Museum of Aviation has grown to become the second largest museum in the United States Air Force and the fourth most visited museum in the Department of Defense. The museum is a place that honors our veterans and their families and reminds our Airmen of their legendary Air Force heritage.

Preserve

Identify, acquire, and maintain historically significant focal points of Air Force and Georgia aviation history.

Learn More

Inspire

Inspire all visitors, military and civilian, through historical, educational, and patriotic experiences designed to ignite the imagination.

Learn More

Educate

Create an environment for life-long learners while providing a foundation for our future leaders and workforce.

Learn More

Our Partners

The Museum of Aviation partners with organizations and initiatives, which expand learning opportunities. The Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame honors the extraordinary achievements of aviation leaders. STARBASE Robins engages students through fun and hands-on STEM activities. The Georgia World War II Heritage Trail showcases inspiring wartime stories at museums throughout Georgia. Make sure to stop by our Gift Shop for your Heritage Trail passport. 

Museum Leadership

In 1983, the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base Georgia Foundation, Inc. was chartered under the State of Georgia as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and is directed by top leaders in the public and private sector throughout Georgia.

Foundation Board of Directors

Chairman: Howard “Chris” Davis  
Northrop Grumman Defense Systems (Ret)

Vice Chairman: Gary S. Garrard
President and CEO of Ocmulgee Fields, Inc. 

Secretary-Treasurer: Phillips Jones, Jr.
CEO, Vein Specialists of the South, Spa Medical LLC

Legal Counsel: David Hollingsworth
Partner, Smith, Hawkins, Hollingsworth & Reeves LLP

RAFB Liaison: William “Byron” Penland
Director of Staff, 78th Air Base Wing, Robins AFB

Jeffrey E. Brett
President and CEO, Museum of Aviation Foundation

Justin Bradley
Vice President Commercial Banking, Cadence Bank

Andrea Griner
VP Economic Development
Central Georgia Technical College

Chuck Herbert
TD Bank North America

Dr. Todd Kinnebrew
Orthopaedic Surgeon, OrthoGeorgia

Henry Lowe
President, Lowe Aviation Company

Michael Maffett
President, Curry Maffett Insurance

Dr. K. Scott Malone
Middle Georgia Orthopaedics

Randy Meade
CEO, Health Management

Marlan Nichols
Managing Member, Nichols Cauley & Associates, LLC 

LaRhonda Patrick
Mayor, City of Warner Robins

Board of Governors

Chairman

  • Howard “Chris” Davis: Northrop Grumman Defense Systems (Ret)

Advisors

  • Jeffrey E. Brett: President and CEO, Museum of Aviation Foundation, Inc.
  • Ken Emery: Colonel, USAF (Ret) Director, Museum of Aviation

Robins Air Force Base Leadership

  • Brigadier General Jon Eberlan: Commander, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, RAFB
  • Colonel Deedrick Reese: Commander, 78th Air Base Wing, RAFB
  • Colonel Sergio Rios: Vice Commander, 78th Air Base Wing, Robins AFB

City & County Officials

  • John Harley: Mayor, City of Centerville
  • Dr. Mark Scott: Superintendent, Houston County Board of Education
  • Dan Perdue: Chairman, Houston County Commissioners
  • LaRhonda Patrick: Mayor, City of Warner Robins
  • Randall Walker: Mayor, City of Perry
  • Barbara Williams: Mayor, City of Forsyth
  • Eric Wilson: Mayor, City of Fort Valley

State & Federal Officials

  • The Honorable Shaw Blackmon, State Representative, District 145 State of Georgia; President, National Bank Products, Inc.
  • The Honorable Larry Walker, III: State Senator, State of Georgia; President, Walker Insurance Agency Inc.
  • The Honorable Austin Scott: United States House of Representatives, 8th District of Georgia

Board Members

  • Dr. Ivan Allen: President, Central Georgia Technical College
  • Patrick M. Bartness: Colonel, USAF, (Ret)
  • Oliver Bateman, III: President, The Bateman Group
  • Mark Bayer: President, Warner Robins Building Supply Company
  • Dr. Christopher Blake: President, Middle Georgia State University
  • Frankie Blalock: Macon Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
  • Eddie Borders: Director of Environmental, Safety and Health, Blue-Bird Corporation
  • April Bragg: President and CEO, Robins Regional Chamber
  • Brian Butler: School Improvement Coordinator, ScienceBibb County School District
  • Marsha Buzzell: Retired
  • Mark Byrd: Owner, Byrd and Company, LLC
  • Keith Charles: Plant Manager, Mid-Georgia-Cogen
  • Adon Clark: Dean, Middle Georgia State University, School of Aviation
  • Scott Cox: Area Manager, Georgia Power
  • Dave Cyr: Parrish Construction Group
  • Sue Dryden: Director, Sustainment Operations, Warner Robins, Lockheed Martin
  • Guy Eberhardt: Agent, Eberhardt & Barry
  • Rick Elder: Former Executive Director of Miami International Airport (Ret)
  • Michelle Elliott: Operations Coordinator, Archway Partnership, UGA
  • Roy Fickling: President, Fickling & Co.
  • Brad Fink: Owner, Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q
  • Lisa Fruge-Cirilli: BAE Systems
  • Angie Gheesling: Executive Director, Development Authority of Houston County
  • Chuck Hall: Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson, LLP
  • Kevin Hall: Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson, LLP
  • George Harrison: Major General, USAF (Ret)
  • Katelyn Hawkinson: Environmental Specialist, CEMEX
  • Fritz Heck: USAF, (Ret)
  • Chuck Herbert: TD Bank North America
  • Kelly Herrington: Houston County Market President, Morris Bank
  • Kate Hogan: Director, Community and Economic Development, City of Warner Robins
  • Dr. Stephan F. Holcomb, D.M.D.: Dental Associates of Middle Georgia (Ret)
  • Steve Holcomb, Jr.: Agent and Property Manager, Americom Realty of Warner Robins
  • David Hollingsworth: Smith, Hawkins, Hollingsworth & Reeves, LLP
  • Dwight Jones: President, Ocmulgee Fields, Inc.
  • Johnny Jones: Director, Robins Financial Credit Union
  • Paul Jones: President, Fort Valley State University
  • Willie Jones: Retired
  • Dr. Bilal Khan: Interventional Cardiologist
  • Casey King: Program Manager, IDIQ Service Center, Raytheon Company
  • John Kubinec: Brigadier General, USAF (Ret); President and CEO, 21st Century Partnership
  • Seeb Lacey: Commercial Banker, Morris Bank
  • Karen Lambert: President & CEO, Peyton Anderson Foundation
  • Laura Mathis: Economic Director, Middle Georgia Regional Commission
  • George McCanless: President and CEO, United Way of Georgia
  • Marian McLemore: Vice President of Cooperative Communications, Flint Energies
  • Robert “Bob” McMahon: Brigadier General, USAF, (Ret)
  • Tom McMichael: Former Houston County Commissioner
  • Chrissy Miner: The Miner Agency
  • Lera Moncrief: Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Jeremy Nelms: President/CEO, Flint Energies
  • Marlan Nichols
  • Edmund Olson: President and Owner, 1842 Inn
  • Larry Pittman: Director, Operations Unit, Northrup Grumman
  • Lowell Register: President, WPGA AM FM TV
  • Dan Rhoades: Director of Strategy, 21st Century Partnership
  • Raymond Ruda: WGXA
  • Stan Shephard: Regional Director for Central Georgia, AT&T
  • Robert Smith: Assistant City Manager, City of Perry
  • Bill Stembridge: Retired Field Representative for US State Senator
  • Mark Stevens: SVP/Community President, CenterState Bank
  • Al Stewart: Director of Business Development, Goodwill Industries of Middle GA
  • Spencer Strickland: Cadence Bank
  • Neal Talton: Owner/President, Ocmulgee Dairy, Inc.
  • Heath Taylor: President & CEO, Dublin-Laurens Chamber of Commerce
  • Andy Thomas: Agent/Owner, State Farm Insurance
  • Patrick Topping: Authority Development of Wilkinson County
  • Bob Walker: Former Mayor of Dublin (Ret)
  • Jackson Walker: Owner, Little House Self Storage, Actor
  • Steve Williams: Morris Bank
  • Bob Young: Former Mayor of Augusta, Broadcast Journalist, Author

Staff Members

Museum Leadership

  • Ken Emery (Colonel, ret.): Director, USAF
  • Arthur Sullivan: Curator, USAF
  • Tony Day: Chief of Restoration, USAF

Foundation Leadership

  • Jeffrey E. Brett: President and CEO
  • Melissa Spalding: Vice President |  Education and Visitor Experience
  • Kate Zidek: Director of Engagement and Fund Development

Operations Team

  • David Anderson: Assistant Retail Coordinator / Weekend Manager
  • Mike Davenport: Facility Support
  • Gwen Davis: Engagement Coordinator
  • Makayla Dowd: VR Simulator Operator
  • Sarah Gaff: Retail Coordinator
  • Dan Hart: Volunteer Coordinator
  • Kirt Barnes: Facility Coordinator
  • Sheryl Kennedy: Bookkeeping
  • Linda Gail Maye: Design Coordinator
  • Lacey Meador: Communications Coordinator
  • Laura Pressey: Budget & Requirements
  • Karen Ross: Events Coordinator
  • Ann Turner: VR Simulator Operator

National STEM Academy Team

  • Joy Cornelius: Grant Coordinator and Fund Development
  • Jenna Watkinson: Heritage Guided Tours and Visitor Experience Coordinator
  • Gina Clark: Innovation and Resource Center Director
  • Chase Dixon: Technology Coordinator
  • Patty Forehand: Exploration Center Director
  • Olivia Ross: Outreach Coordinator and STEM Specialist
  • Alicia Kern: STEM Specialist and Instructor
  • Rebekah Stephens: STEM Specialist and Instructor
  • Kim Ruberti: Mission Quest Flight Instructor and Coordinator
  • Matthew Reeves: Mission Quest Flight Coach
  • Holly Bradley: Mission Quest Flight Coach and STEM Specialist
  • Martha Lockhart: National STEM Academy Finance Bookkeeper
  • Denise Smith: Education Administration Assistant

Financials & Performance

In 1983, the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base Georgia Foundation, Inc. was chartered under the State of Georgia as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, EIN: 58-1451656. The Museum of Aviation Foundation’s mission is to meticulously preserve our Nation’s military history while growing exceptional future leaders through education and inspiration. The vision is to continually strengthen our position as a STEM Center of Excellence, while solidifying our role as the number one visitor attraction in Middle Georgia.

Strategic Plan

The strategic plan is an enterprise plan for the entirety of the Museum of Aviation, including both the Air Force and the Museum of Aviation Foundation.

While roles and responsibilities are divisible this plan is intended as a corporate document to guide decision-making and planning for both entities.

Given the significance of the Museum of Aviation and its overall contributions to enhancing tourism in the state of Georgia and telling of the Air Force story, it is important to put forth a strong planning effort that ensures the continued growth and sustainability of this crown jewel.

STRATEGIC PLAN

Aviator

The Aviator is our newsletter and full of information that will keep you up-to-date with restoration projects, events, education programs and classes, as well as stories and artifacts from behind the scenes.

AVIATOR