Nebraska’s only NASA astronaut is now the the new president and chief executive officer of the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in his hometown of Ashland. Clayton Anderson started his new position at the beginning of May.
“Clay’s unique professional experiences align perfectly with the mission of the Museum,” says Gary Gates, Chair of the Museum’s Board of Directors. “One of the exhibits at the Museum is a celebration of Clay’s space exploration. We are very excited to have Clay’s visionary skillset at the helm of the organization.”
Anderson’s tenure at NASA spanned three decades. As an astronaut, he was a part of four space missions enabling him to spend 167 days in space, executing six spacewalks. Anderson retired from NASA in 2013.
“The opportunity to come back home to Ashland, Nebraska, to lead the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum is the culmination of a career dedicated to space exploration and education,” Anderson says. “As we head toward the Museum’s 25th anniversary in 2023, I look forward to collaborating with communities throughout the region to tell the powerful story of Nebraska and America’s role in military command and its relationship with our nation’s aerospace exploration.”
(Photo: SAC Museum)