Fayetteville, NC
Downtown Fayetteville in North Carolina boasts one of the most impressive military museums in the country – the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum (ASOM).
The museum, jointly supported by the U.S. Army Center of Military History and by the 501c3 ASOM Foundation, was opened to the public in the year 2000 and has since been a place where stories of sacrifice and honor have been brought to life. The museum plays a key role in documenting and honoring the dedication and service of the Army’s Airborne and Special Operations forces. From World War II to the present, they have been the tip of the spear in the defense of our Nation’s interest world-wide. The stories of these military men and women are central to understanding world events over the past 83 years – a powerful educational experience for K-12 and adult learners alike.
What sets ASOM apart is that its campus also serves as a vital educational and training facility for the world’s largest military base – Fort Liberty. Looking ahead to the future, the museum is committed to expanding its educational resources both for the civilian and military communities, as well as to providing immersive experiences to engage and inspire visitors of all ages.
The Need
The museum enlisted CapDev’s services to conduct an 8.5-million-dollar first-phase capital campaign in order to upgrade and improve its facilities and museum experience, as it was time to re-envision and re-energize the museum to educate and inspire a 21st audience.
Leadership
With the very able leadership of the museum’s Executive Director, Renee Lane, and late longtime board member, 4-star General James Lindsay*, the campaign team set to work in 2018 to realize their goal. CapDev Senior Counsel, Kevin Jacques, was called into duty as their trusted advisor.
Resiliency
The Fayetteville community responded enthusiastically and generously, quickly raising one-third of the funds needed. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed that initial outreach, but Lane and Gen. Lindsay were confident that the support of their patrons, stakeholders, and the immediate community would overcome any challenge that came their way. With agility and perseverance, they have confidently spearheaded the campaign, and their determination has been rewarded, now reaching over three-quarters of the original $8 million goal.
The Campaign
The campaign will be carried out in three phases:
- Phase 1: Complete the World War I and World War II exhibitions, featuring stories like those of the daring OSS agent Virgina Hall and the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, “Triple Nickles,” World War II’s only African American paratroopers who trained at Camp Mackall, N.C.
- Phase 2: Focus on the Cold War, which carries the Airborne and Special Operations story through the Korea and the Vietnam Wars, to the collapse of the USSR.
- Phase 3: New Vision – Focus on 21st Century Missions by expanding the permanent gallery footprint in what is now the museum’s theater. The Museum is also committed to engaging and educating visitors of all ages through multi-sensory exhibitions. To that end, the Foundation will establish a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Innovation Lab, the first of its kind in the region, in addition to a virtual reality visitor experience.
As of today, the museum has achieved over 75% of its Phase 1 goal. Visit the ASOM website to learn more about the museum’s plans and stay tuned for CapDev updates.
*On August 5th, 2023, our nation lost one of its great leaders in 4-Star General James Lindsay. His legacy will live on through the museum and through the memory of all those who knew him.