Leadership
Jeff Draeger, President & Chief Executive Officer
The Museum’s Trustees unanimously appointed Jeff Draeger as President and CEO in Fall 2025. Jeff brings a rare combination of museum leadership, a distinguished naval career, and operational expertise across nonprofit and corporate settings. He has guided large organizations through complex transitions—from major exhibition support and infrastructure improvements at the Seattle Art Museum to delivering a new 230,000-square-foot headquarters and more standardized systems at Blue Origin. His commitment to service and learning aligns with the Museum’s values, as he works closely with our community and partners.
Jeff previously served as Interim CEO and Chief Operating Officer of the Seattle Art Museum, overseeing a three-site, nearly $40 million institution with 350 on staff. While there he helped craft and implement a five-year strategic plan that advanced programs, exhibitions and operations. Jeff also led facilities planning, construction, and operations at Blue Origin across four national sites, directing a 70-person team and more than $120 million in annual capital and operating budgets. A distinguished graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he served as Commanding Officer for six Navy sites across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, earning recognition for installation excellence from Naval District Washington. He previously served as a congressional liaison and legislative advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Commanding Officer of Patrol Squadron 26. Jeff holds an MS in Operations Research from The George Washington University and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the Air War College. Jeff and his wife, Jen, an accomplished Navy veteran and commercial pilot, will be living in Charlestown with their two Labrador Retrievers.
Jackie Hibbard, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer
Kate Todd, Vice President & Chief Development Officer
Kate Todd is the Museum’s Vice President and Chief Development Officer, overseeing all aspects of fundraising as well as marketing and communications. Since joining the Museum in 2023, she has built a results-driven team focused on advancing philanthropy and strategic communications in service of the Museum’s mission. Kate brings over 30 years of experience in strategic resource development and has led multiple capital campaigns, with a focus on education and academic medicine. Her record includes completing the largest campaign in the Perkins School for the Blind’s history while helping generate 60% its annual revenue, and leading fundraising for the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, where she stewarded some of its largest donors, including the Avon Foundation for Breast Cancer. Kate is an active volunteer with Pine Street Inn and serves on its Board of Overseers.
Sarah Watkins, Vice President of Museum Experience
Sarah Watkins is Vice President of Museum Experience, guiding the visitor experience, education, exhibits, and curatorial teams to deliver engaging, mission-driven programs and exhibitions. With 30 years of experience developing award-winning content and interpretive strategies, she brings a deep commitment to accessible learning and audience engagement. Sarah serves on the Board of the Council of American Maritime Museums and is a frequent conference speaker on innovative approaches to museum learning. Earlier in her career, Sarah managed an art gallery on Newbury Street and held curatorial roles at the Museum of Fine Arts, Colonial Williamsburg, and the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. She has served on two statewide library boards. Sarah holds an M.A. in American Studies from The College of William and Mary and an M.A. in Archives Management from Simmons University.
Trustees
Dean H. Steeger, Chairman
Frank Morse, Vice Chairman
Daniel E. Smith, Vice Chairman
CAPT Kenyon P. Kellogg, III, USN, Treasurer
Nancy Kelleher, Secretary
Nirav G. Desai
Paul B. Ferraro
John Fitzgerald
CAPT Thomas V. Hennessey, Jr., USN (Ret.)
James F. Herrington
Richard M.W. Johnson
The Honorable James F. McHugh, III
Frank Morse
Jennifer Rossi, Ph.D.
Lois Siegelman
Jessica Stebbins
Dennis J. White
Chairman’s Council
Paul E. George, Chairman Emeritus
Dennis J. Langwell, Chairman Emeritus
G. West Saltonstall, Chairman Emeritus
Samuel Thorne
Alexander Washburn
Life Trustees
John H. Abbott
Robert J. Allison
W. Karl Baker
Margaret M. Benson
Bruce A. Blessington
C. William Carey
Philip C. Chadwick
David D. Corbett
Lee C. Costello
Herbert P. Dane
Ronald M. Egalka
Benjamin M. Faucett
William M. Fowler, Jr.
The Honorable Philip C. Garber
James B. Hawkes
John R. Hayes, Jr.
Daniel H. Kaufman
Gary P. Kearney, M.D.
William C. Kelley, Jr.
Thomas A. Kershaw
James Kras
Anthony M. Lovell
William Martin
Paul F. McDonough, Jr.
Lawrence L. McGlynn
Patricia L. McGlynn
Sherman “Pat” Morss, Jr.
John D. Mulattieri
Jeremiah P. Murphy, Jr.
Paul K. Mutch
Alison Nolan
LCDR Thomas F. Norton, CEC, USN (Ret.)
Stephen J. O’Leary, III
H. Lewis Rapaport
Suzanne S. Reid
William P. Rice
William Phipps Rice, Jr.
Mary Beth Sandman
Megan Sniffin-Marinoff
Matthew P. Stackpole
Timothy L. Vaill
William H. White
Advisors
CAPT Joseph J. Albanese, CEC, USN (Ret.)
Danamary Beane
CDR John A. Benda, USN
Celeste Bernardo
Brandon Bigelow
CAPT Matthew J. Bonner, USN (Ret.)
CDR Paul J. Brawley, USN (Ret.)
Terri Healey Brogan
CAPT William A. Bullard, III, USN (Ret.)
Andrew L. Cabot
Mark N. Cacciola
LT Joe Cardona, USN
CAPT Sanford Carlisle, USNR (Ret.)
Vincent Cerbone
Bruce H. Chafee
Paul E. Clifford
Martin Conroy, Jr.
CAPT Timothy M. Cooper, USN (Ret.)
Robert Coughlin
CAPT Charles Todd Creekman, USN (Ret.)
CAPT Daniel A. Daglio, USN (Ret.)
Daniel W. Daly
Stephen Decatur, Jr.
COL Eric DiNoto, MAANG (Ret.)
Ralph Doering, Jr.
CDR Leonard Dorrian, USCG (Ret.)
MCCS Elliott Fabrizio, USN
John Kenneth Felter, Esq.
William C. Fuller, Jr., Ph.D.
Hull P. Fulweiler
Ian Alexander Fyfe
CDR Robert S. Gerosa, Jr., USN (Ret.)
David W. Graham
Gary G. Greenfield
Robert Hallinan
Richard H. Hawkins
Ina Heafitz
Lewis Heafitz
Daniel E. Holland, III
LCDR Ryan C. Holland, USN
John Huether
VADM Richard W. Hunt, USN (Ret.)
Tina Karalekas
CAPT Thomas G. Kelley, USN (Ret.)
Sinan Kunt
Dr. Joseph Kunze
Peter G. Kuttner
Ann Lagasse
Morgan B. Ley
Caleb Loring, III
RADM Thomas C. Lynch, USN (Ret.)
Dr. John Maguire
COL Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.)
Michael P. Manning
CDR Tyrone G. Martin, USN (Ret.)
Daniel G. May
Paula Milone-Nuzzo
Robert J. Monahan, Jr.
Maxwell Mulholland
Coleman Nee
Kevin M. O’Brien
Reid Oslin
Bruce A. Percelay
Nathaniel Philbrick
Richard P. Quinlan
Sandra Regan
Chad Reilly
CDR Michael J. Riordan, USN (Ret.)
Daniel A. Rioux
A. Heaton Robertson
Glen Ross, M.D.
Mike Rowsey
Thomas E. Rudden
Matthew Santangelo
Robert Santiago
Stephen Schnitzer
Daniel Scully
Carol P. Searle
CAPT John L. Shea, USN (Ret.)
Clyde Paul Smith
Michael J. Stapf
Stewart H. Steffey, Jr.
David Thombs
Kenneth Turner
FORCM David Twiford, USN (Ret.)
Allison R. Walk
Jeannie Whalen
CAPT Sunita Williams, USN (Ret.)
RDML Jesse A. Wilson, Jr., USN (Ret.)
