New director named at Cantigny’s First Division Museum

WHEATON – The Robert R. McCormick Foundation and Cantigny Park recently announced the appointment of Krewasky Salter as executive director of the First Division Museum.

Salter, a retired U.S. Army colonel, brings more than 34 years of experience to the museum, with 25 years in active military duty. He served as a senior staff officer at the Pentagon before retiring from the military in 2010.

Most recently, Salter was a guest curator at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. He curated the museum’s exhibition, Double Victory: The African American Military Experience. The exhibit opened in 2016. He is also serving as curator of an upcoming exhibition, We Return Fighting: The African American Experience in World War I, scheduled to open in December at the NMAAHC.

“Krewasky’s deep experience as an Army officer, teacher and scholar of military history and museum curator makes him an ideal choice for this leadership role,” said David Hiller, president and CEO of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

Salter succeeds Paul Herbert, who retired in December. His appointment comes less than two years after the First Division Museum completed a comprehensive renovation. The update, part of the park’s ongoing Project New Leaf, enables visitors to experience the proud history of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division – the “Big Red One” – in exciting new ways through cutting-edge exhibits and storytelling technology.

“I am humbled to be selected executive director of the First Division Museum and join the McCormick Foundation leadership team,” Salter said. “I’m extremely excited for the opportunity to share my military leadership and history, museum professional and small business ownership skill sets with the great museum team at Cantigny to help achieve further success.”

Salter earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, where he was a distinguished military graduate, and a master’s and Ph.D. from Florida State University.