Brent D. Glass was named director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in October 2002. He joined the Smithsonian Dec. 30, 2002.

Under Glass' leadership, the National Museum of American History has opened two popular permanent exhibitions, "America on the Move" in November 2003 and "The Price of Freedom: Americans at War" in November 2004, as well as a temporary display, "Treasures of American History," while the museum is closed for renovations.

Prior to joining the Smithsonian, Glass was executive director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in Harrisburg, Pa., a position he held for 15 years (1987-2002). During his time at the Commission, Glass managed the largest and most comprehensive state history program in the country and oversaw 25 historical sites and museums, including the State Archives and State Museum; the State Historic Preservation Office; public history programs; and historical publications. He was executive director of the North Carolina Humanities Council from 1983 to 1987.

Glass, 60, is an active member of the academic and cultural communities, serving on many boards that work to generate enthusiasm for history among the general public. He is currently a member of the Flight 93 Memorial Advisory Commission. Glass is a trustee of Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania and has served as a member of the national council of the American Association for State and Local History and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. He is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The National Museum of American History is the third most visited Smithsonian museum. It has more than 250 employees and a federal appropriation of approximately $20 million. It houses some of the Smithsonian's best-known treasures, including the Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired the National Anthem; the hat worn by President Lincoln the night he was assassinated; the portable desk used by Thomas Jefferson as he wrote the Declaration of Independence; and the Woolworth lunch counter that was the site of the 1960 student sit-in in Greensboro, N.C.

The museum opened in 1964 and is currently undergoing an extensive renovation of its building's central core. An extensive renovation of the public spaces and exhibition galleries began in 1998 and will be completed in 2012, resulting in a complete transformation of the museum's interior.

Glass received a bachelor's degree from Lafayette College (1969), a master's degree from New York University (1971) and a doctorate in history from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (1980). He has written books and articles on industrial history and various topics related to the history of Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

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