Naval Aviation Museum has new leader

The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation on Tuesday named Duane D. Thiessen, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general and aviator, as its new president and chief executive officer.

 

Thiessen, 62, succeeds Gerald R. Hoewing, 63, a retired Navy vice admiral who announced his retirement in February.

 

Like Hoewing, Thiessen is a veteran aviator whose deployments included flying fighter jets on duty on an aircraft carrier. He goes by the call sign “Drano.”

 

As Hoewing’s successor, Thiessen will take on the budgeting, fundraising and administration of the foundation as well as the management of the National Flight Academy. He begins the new job June 4.

 

Neither Thiessen nor foundation board members were available for interviews Wednesday.

 

A Museum Foundation news release stated that Thiessen has “the operational experience and strong connections with the military and Washington, D.C., to protect and promote the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation’s mission to inspire, engage and educate the public on the proud history and heritage of Naval Aviation.”

 

A Marine Corps website states that Thiessen’s 38-year career included commands in Korea and Hawaii. He retired last August from his post commanding U.S. Marine Corps forces in the Pacific.