The Board of Directors of the Lone Star Flight Museum has named Anna Hawley the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the museum. Previously serving as the museum’s Chief Operating Officer, Hawley succeeds museum CEO Lt. Gen. Doug Owens USAF, (ret.), who has led the organization for the past eight years. She assumed the leadership role on June 1, 2024.
Owens was instrumental in the museum’s move from Galveston Island to Ellington Airport in 2017. Under his leadership, the newly imagined flight museum opened with a vision and mission that focused on celebrating aviation history as well as promoting STEM education through the science and wonder of flight. Leading the organization toward incredible successes and navigating weather and pandemic-related challenges, Owens now leaves the museum growing and thriving.
Owens said, “I am very proud of where the museum is today, and my thanks go to our board of directors and wonderful team of staff and volunteers that made it happen. With their collective vision and support, the museum is poised for even greater growth and impact. I am excited for Anna and the leadership she will bring to the position and wish her and the staff nothing but success!”
Chairman of the Board of Directors and former U.S. Congressman Pete Olson added, “Anna has worked alongside Doug for more than five years and has been an integral part of the museum’s increased visitors, growth of our education programs and impact in the community. She will continue the work initiated by Doug and lead the museum toward even greater success with innovative experiences not seen at other aviation museums. Her almost three decades of non-profit leadership, marketing, operations, tourism, and museum industry experience is exactly what the Lone Star Flight Museum needs in this next phase of our strategic plan. Anna is the right person at the right time to keep our museum soaring higher.”
Hawley said, “I am thrilled to begin my new role as president and CEO and honored to have the support and confidence of the board of directors. As a native Houstonian, I am excited to lead what I believe is one of the best museum experiences in a city with dozens of great museums. I’m proud to be part of this museum and to have worked alongside General Owens. I wish him well and thank him for his leadership.”
Hawley will lead a staff of 43 full and part-time museum staff and more than 100 volunteers. Jerry Scott, an aviation-industry veteran and the current Director of Flight Operations at the museum, has been named Chief Operating Officer and assumed this new role on June 1.