Collections
Bio
Elizabeth F. Garcia serves as Assistant Director for Collections of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Her primary responsibilities are to protect, preserve, and provide accountability for the national collection of aircraft, spacecraft, and related artifacts and works of art. There are over 76,000 artifacts in the National Air and Space Museum collection.
Ms. Garcia manages a staff of more than 90 employees in four divisions: Preservation and Restoration; conservation; Collections Processing; and the Office of the Registrar. Ms. Garcia divides her time between the Museum’s original building in Washington, D.C., the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA, and the Paul E. Garber Facility in Suitland, MD.
Ms. Garcia began work at the Museum in 2004 and has over 30 years’ experience in museum management and operations. Prior to joining the Smithsonian, she held leadership positions with the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the Museum of Aviation, Flight and Technology, and the Weeks Air Museum where she was responsible for rebuilding the museum facility and overseeing the restoration of its aircraft collection which had been damaged by Hurricane Andrew.
Ms. Garcia holds a BS and MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.