| Fredericksburg, Texas – The Admiral Nimitz Foundation (ANF) is pleased to introduce their new CEO/President, Brigadier General Steve Salazar, USA (Ret), who assumed the position as of November 9, 2024. Salazar succeeds Mike Hagee who led ANF, which funds and operates the National Museum of the Pacific War, for over 16 years. Having served in the United States Army for 36 years and leading commands in both Europe and Iraq, Salazar retired in 2012. He then entered the private sector, joining DynCorp International for five years, four of them as Vice President of Global Strategic Initiatives, before creating his own consulting firm, STV Solutions, LLC. He also followed his passion for supporting mental wellness by working in healthcare as Vice President, Operations Strategy at Cityblock Health and founding 360 Military-Veterans Partnership, a 501(c)(3), non-profit dedicated to promoting the Health, Resilience and Leadership Capacity of our active-duty NCO Leaders. “Building on the foundation of General Hagee’s vision and leadership, our professional team with the tremendous support of the Texas Historical Commission and our State Legislature, are prepared to take this institution to the next level of national prominence,“ says Salazar. “I am deeply humbled and excited to have the opportunity to lead this great team and contribute to the Fredericksburg/Gillespie County community.” Born at Fort Benning, Georgia, Salazar graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and earned his M.S. in National Security Strategy from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA. Commissioned in 1982, his final posting was Commanding General of the Joint Multinational Training Command in Bavaria, Germany where he provided executive leadership for the training of U.S. Troops and NATO teams across Europe. Immediately prior, he served as Commanding General of the Coalition Army Advisory Team in Baghdad, Iraq and led the development of a self-sustaining, 250,000+ man Iraqi Army, partnering with Iraqi leadership. Salazar, with his wife Anna, have relocated to Fredericksburg from San Antonio and are quickly integrating into the community, having represented ANF at the recent Red, White & Bourbon Fundraising event at Garrison Brothers Distillery and attending FlavoryTX’s Holiday Prelude. Salazar also led the Veterans Day commemoration at the National Museum of the Pacific War. “My wife Anna and I are deeply honored by this opportunity to take the helm of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation and the National Museum of the Pacific War,” he says. “We feel exceptionally blessed to be joining this amazing team and this wonderful community. Everyone has been iconically ‘Texas-friendly’ and welcoming.” About the Admiral Nimitz Foundation The Admiral Nimitz Foundation was established in 1971 as a 501(c)(3) Texas Corporation to provide additional development funding for the Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Naval Museum, a museum honoring Fredericksburg’s native son and Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces, Pacific Ocean Area. The sole purpose of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation is to raise funds for the National Museum of the Pacific War and to manage its operation. About the National Museum of the Pacific War The National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW), founded in 1967, is the only institution in the continental United States dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific and Asiatic Theaters in World War II. The Museum annually welcomes more than 120,000 visitors, including at least 15,000 students from across the state. The museum sits on six acres in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas featuring three galleries with more than 55,000 square feet of exhibit space, 40 media installations, approximately 900 artifacts, 15 macro-artifacts, and hundreds of photographs. The Museum is a Texas Historical Commission Property, managed and supported by The Admiral Nimitz Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, visit http://www.pacificwarmuseum.org. Follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. About Smithsonian Affiliations Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops long-term collaborative partnerships with museums, educational, and cultural organizations to share Smithsonian collections, build collaborative networks, and engage learners of all ages with Smithsonian resources. More information is available at www.affiliations.si.edu. |
