The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial on Monday announced Matthew C. Naylor, PhD, a native of Australia, as its new President and CEO.
Naylor has more than two decades of experience in non-profit leadership, including, most recently, as director of advancement at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Previously, he'd served as president of an Independence, Missouri-based humanitarian organization, Outreach International, and in leadership roles, such as president of the Australia region, at Community of Christ.
The 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I is just about a year away. In January, President Obama signed into law the World War I Centennial Commission Act, establishing a Centennial Commission based at the museum.
Board of Directors chair Mary D. Cohen has served as interim CEO since August 2012. In a release, Cohen described Naylor as "the ideal leader to take this organization through the World War I centennial events, to create and articulate our ongoing vision, and to showcase the museum globally."
Naylor starts his new role at the museum on June 17, 2013.
