New Air & Space Museum Education Director a Perfect Match for Renewed Emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics(STEM) Adademics for Young People

(May 21, 2007) - Francis French commits to the San Diego Air & Space Museum as its new Education Director. French joins the Museum team after serving the last three years as Director of Special Events for Sally Ride Science. It was there, he managed the nationally renowned "Sally Ride Toy Challenge" whose national finals were just staged at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Before that, French was Education Programs Coordinator for the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego.

Says Museum President Jim Kidrick, "Francis is a perfect choice---he matches exactly our goals to expand our youth science and technology programs. Using aviation innovation as a metaphor for mankind's most significant scientific advances, Francis and his team will surely inspire our youth to become the most technology focused generations ever. In just the last 104 years, since the 1903 Wright Brothers first powered flight, man has accomplished more scientifically than in all history before that. It's important our young people understand the scientific innovation process."

"I'm glad to be here," said Francis----"This is a real opportunity to position the San Diego Air & Space Museum as a regional and national leader in science and technology education. I'm anxious to get started..."

A Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society and respected space historian, French is not new to the museum. He had served as a consultant on spaceflight history, written space history articles, serving on exhibition committees and consulted on potential traveling exhibits.

French has co-authored two space history books as part of a series for the University of Nebraska Press, Into that Silent Sea: Trailblazers of the Space Era, 1961-1965 and In the Shadow of the Moon: A Challenging Journey to Tranquility 1965-1969. He has written numerous articles for the British magazine Spaceflight.

French is a native of Great Britain and has a B.A. from the University of North London. His interest in space extends to having completed a training course at the US Space Academy in Huntsville, Ala.