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Mr. James W. Draper serves as the Museum Director for the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum, administered by Space Launch Delta 45 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. He develops and implements an overall dynamic, sustainable vision for the Museum. Mr. Draper’s responsibilities include drafting budgets, strategic plans, and agreements with mission partners. He coordinates the Museum Volunteer Association, liaises with the supporting Museum Foundation, and guides staff to meet and exceed USAF/USSF Heritage Program standards. Mr. Draper collaborates with local and national cultural organizations to expose larger audiences to Cape Canaveral’s rich history. He oversees all collections management, exhibition, and restoration activities. Over 30 Museum facilities, including the Sands Space History Center and Hangar C, fall under his management. Mr. Draper shares Cape Canaveral history through online content, exhibition development, community presentations, specialty tours, and inquiries from students and scholars of aerospace history.
Mr. Draper began his professional museum career as Site Manager of the Swiss Historical Village in New Glarus, Wisconsin. He later took on the role of Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at the Rock Country Historical Society, Janesville, Wisconsin. Mr. Draper’s federal service started in 2003 as Museum Registrar at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Over the next 16 years, he managed a collection of 20,000 artifacts, oversaw all artifact digitization, coordinated thousands of artifact loans, managed the Padnos Museum Internship Program, and served as project manager for many core and temporary exhibition projects.
Mr. Draper’s career reveals a lifelong devotion to history through the preservation and interpretation of material culture. He advances strategies to preserve and use artifacts to increase public understanding of the past. His commitment is exemplified in awards, publications, and demonstrated success in the museum field.