Christopher Kolakowski Email & Phone Number

Madison, Wisconsin Area

Serve as chief executive officer of a state museum dedicated to the story of Wisconsin's veterans from the Civil War to present. Set strategic direction and allocate resources and priorities. Partner with nonprofit Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation to achieve goals. Supervise and direct staff on all aspects of museum and archival operations. Write exhibit labels and interpretive media. Obligate funds to fulfill the museum's mission. Provide leadership and expertise to museum staff and state government. Act as public face of the museum. Conduct tours of the museum and other public programs about Wisconsin veterans and the conflicts in which they participated.

Norfolk, Va

Serve as chief executive officer of the museum and archive dedicated to the family, life, and times of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. Set strategic direction and allocate resources and priorities. Plan and execute events related the Memorial's 50th Anniversary in 2014. Partner with nonprofit General Douglas MacArthur Foundation to achieve goals. Supervise and direct staff on all aspects of museum and archival operations. Write exhibit labels and interpretive media. Obligate funds to fulfill the museum's mission. Provide leadership and expertise to museum staff and city government. Act as public face of the Memorial. Conduct tours of the museum and other public programs about the Army and General MacArthur.

Fort Knox, Ky

Served as chief executive officer for an official U.S. Army museum. Developed and executed a four-year, $5M renovation and exhibit plan for a 33,000 square-foot display area and a 45,000 square-foot building. Set strategic direction and determine annual budget and staffing levels, especially regarding Base Realignment (BRAC). Supervised and directed curatorial staff on exhibit storyline, design, layout, and installation. Wrote exhibit labels and interpretive media. Acquired, cataloged and accounted for artifacts in accordance with Army regulations using the AHCAS program. Obligated funds to fulfill the museum's mission. Provided leadership and expertise to museum staff, the Army units on Fort Knox, and other Army museums nationwide. Conducted tours of the museum and other public programs about the Army and General George Patton. Inaugurated the Patton Center of Leadership. Led staff rides for Army personnel.

Fort Mcpherson, Ga

Served as chief executive officer for an official U.S. Army museum. Set strategic direction and annual budget, especially regarding Base Realignment (BRAC). Supervised and directed curatorial staff on exhibit design, layout, and installation. Wrote exhibit labels and interpretive media. Cataloged and accounted for artifacts in accordance with Army regulations using the AHCAS program. Obligated funds to fulfill the museum's mission. Provided leadership and expertise to museum staff, the Army Reserve, and other Army museums nationwide. Prepared the museum for its first-ever Army Museum Certification inspection. Served as museum webmaster. Conducted tours of the museum and other public programs about the Army Reserve. Led staff rides for Army Reserve Command personnel. Conceived, developed, and installed major exhibits on Army Reserve NCOs, the Army Reserve in World War II, and the Vietnam War.

Perryville, Ky

Directed all operations of a nonprofit 501c3 preservation organization. Served as chief preservationist for Kentucky’s largest battlefield and several related sites. Engaged with Board of Directors and a state commission to set strategic direction and implement new acquisition, restoration, and interpretation projects. Obtained over $2.5 million in government grants and legislative appropriations to support projects. Selected, evaluated, and acquired 152 acres of critical battlefield land in conjunction with partners. Managed budget and raised funds for preservation projects. Restored historic structures. Acted as public face for Perryville Battlefield and promoted the site to tourists and media across Kentucky and the United States. Wrote interpretive materials, exhibits, and brochures for Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site and downtown Perryville. Organized and directed staff and volunteers to accomplish the association’s mission.

Washington, D.C.

Served as the trust’s primary representative on all transportation-related matters. Represented the trust as consulting party on road projects, and made comments as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 review process. Acted as primary liaison to the Virginia Department of Transportation and Commonwealth Transportation Board. Promoted the trust’s mission and interests to state and local government officials, particularly in Virginia. Worked with partners to support battlefield preservation efforts. Acted with partners to encourage Civil War tourism efforts around the United States, particularly in Virginia and Kentucky. Supervised interpretation planning for several trust-owned battlefields. Directed operations of the Civil War Discovery Trail, which totals over 600 sites in 32 states and three countries. Served as staff historical consultant. Gave battlefield tours and wrote articles in Hallowed Ground, the trust’s quarterly magazine.

Ma, Public History

Ba, History & Mass Communications