Effective Jan. 1, John Barry will take over as chief executive officer at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Lowry. Barry is a retired Air Force general well known for his work as executive director of the Space Shuttle Columbia Accident Investigation team. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and prior to that served for seven years as superintendent of Aurora Public Schools. Barry is an honors graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, a combat fighter pilot, wing commander and graduate of Top Gun.

Barry replaces Greg Anderson who is stepping down after 12 years as the museum’s CEO. Also leaving the museum is Mark Hyatt, chief operating officer. Hyatt has taken a position as president of the Aviation Community Foundation.

“If we were to design a perfect leader to take Wings boldly into the future,” said Charlie Johnson, chairman of the board at Wings Over the Rockies, “the blueprint would almost certainly include a diagram of John Barry. There simply isn’t a more qualified, courageous or passionate leader more devoted to the heritage and to the future of our museum’s mission.”

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum is Colorado’s Official Air & Space Museum. It was founded in 1994 and is housed at the former Lowry Air Force Base in Denver.