With its opening coming this fall, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM) has found a Museum Director in Samir Bitar, the former Director of Visitor Experience for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.
Bitar comes to the NVMM with more than 10 years of museum management experience. While at the Smithsonian, he incorporated strategies to elevate access and engagement for 20 million annual visitors across 19 museums, according to a press release.
Simultaneously, Bitar generated earned revenues exceeding $26 million and wrangled $52 million in philanthropic dollars that contributed to the development of more than 15 exhibitions.
He’s also a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army.
“Samir Bitar is exceptionally suited to serve in this capacity,” said Lt. General Michael Ferriter (U.S. Army, Retired), who was chosen as President and CEO of the NVMM last month, “as someone who has experience running a world-class museum as well as someone who proudly served our country and has a first-hand understanding for the unique subject matter — the experiences and stories of veterans.”
Bitar will take on the NVMM, a 53,000 square-foot museum with a 2.5-acre Memorial Grove on the Scioto riverfront. The museum itself will preserve the names, dates and battles of the U.S.’s past and current conflicts, as well as personal belongings, stories, and other artifacts. There will also be a “Remembrance Room” dedicated to soldiers who lost their lives while serving.
“The time I spent as a soldier shaped my commitment to public service,” Bitar said in a press release. “I am excited to work for an institution like NVMM that places such a strong emphasis on inclusive storytelling for all our veterans, past and present.”
For more information, visit nationalvmm.org.
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