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Terry Aitken

Terry Aitken is senior curator of the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. In this position, Aitken helps guide the museum in its mission of preserving the heritage of the U.S. Air Force and for its interpretation and exhibit to the American public and international audiences.

As senior curator, Aitken helps provide strategic direction and management oversight to the institution’s exhibit planning, restoration efforts, collections management, archival stewardship, educational programming, public outreach, special events planning and other areas. Aitken received formal appointment to his current position on Sept. 10, 2000.

Before becoming senior curator, Aitken served as chief of the museum’s Plans and Programs Office since March 1999. Aitken joined the museum as a museum specialist in August 1992 and served in that role until being elevated to Plans and Programs chief.

Before joining the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Aitken served as curator of the Oregon Military Museum in Clackamas, Ore., from July 1976 to July 1992.

Aitken served on active duty with the U.S. Army during Operation Desert Storm. Assigned to the U.S. Army Center of Military History, Aitken was part of a special three-man team tasked with battlefield collection for the Army Museum System. Among Aitken’s honors are the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Meritorious Achievement Medal.

Aitken holds a bachelor’s degree in humanities and a master’s degree in museum studies, both from Antioch University, with continuing graduate studies in cultural resource management at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.

Aitken is married to the former Ylva Ejdepalm, a native of Stockholm, Sweden.