Artifacts are the heart of our organization, and improvements in collections management continued throughout the year. Even though the Collections Managers are usually out of public view, they are absolutely essential to the functioning of the museum. They manage approximately 40,000 artifacts, large and small, in the collections. In 2014, they completed major improvements to collections storage, artifact conservation, integrated pest management, security, and archival management. NUM’s acquisition of DSRV Mystic, Mystic and Avalon’s archival collections, and BMCM(MDV) Carl Brashear’s Master Diver certificate are the noteworthy treasures added to our collections. Education programs, outreach, and special events continue to draw people to the Naval Undersea Museum and are where we receive our repeat visitation. NUM made great strides in strengthening its position as a STEAM center for the Navy in 2014. Our successes with Engineers Discovery “E” Day, Science Saturdays, and many more programs demonstrate the public’s interest in and appreciation of the museum. NUM’s collaboration with the Puget Sound Navy Museum, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport, and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility to launch the Navy STEM Days program in 2014, in particular, has been a resounding success for the museum, local school districts, and the Navy. The Naval Undersea Museum also supported more than 22,600 active duty Navy personnel and civilians through hosting ceremonies, meetings, and events in 2014. No recounting of the museum’s accomplishments would be accurate without a rousing acknowledgment of the volunteers who support our work in so many ways every day of the year. The museum’s volunteer staff is more than 70 strong and includes some of the friendliest and most accomplished people you will ever meet. They provide the quality that our visitors and the Navy recognize and appreciate. In 2014, the Naval Undersea Museum welcomed twelve new volunteers. We also said thank you and farewell to the following volunteers: Sheri Bandy, Carl Callender, John Duefrane, Peggy Poole, Suzanne St. John, and Larry Tucker. My staff and I could not operate the museums without the loyal, consistent, and dependable support of our superb volunteers. I look forward to 2015, knowing that the Naval Undersea Museum will continue to prosper with the strong support of the public, the volunteer staff, our private non-profit foundation, and the U.S. Navy. All the best, Lindy Dosher • Collections Manager Jennifer Heinzelman earned the Meritorious Civilian Service Award for arranging DSRV Mystic’s acquisition • Added new staff member Steve Harvey as Exhibit Manager • Launched our new website, www.navalunderseamuseum.org • Hosted 265 Navy ceremonies, meetings, and events attended by 22,674 Navy and civilian personnel
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