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Karen Kincaid Brady appointed executive director of NM Museum of Space History

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Debra Garcia y Griego, Cabinet Secretary for Department of Cultural Affairs | americansforthearts.org

Karen Kincaid Brady has been appointed as the new executive director of the New Mexico Museum of Space History, with her tenure beginning on October 27, 2025. The announcement was made jointly by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and the New Mexico Museum of Space History Commission.

Debra Garcia y Griego, cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Karen to the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Her combined expertise in history, preservation, and museum leadership, paired with her lifelong passion for space history, will help inspire future generations through the remarkable story of New Mexico’s role in space exploration.”

Kincaid Brady has more than ten years of experience in museum management, historic preservation, and public programming. Before this appointment, she was business and programming director at the Neill-Cochran House Museum in Austin, Texas, where she managed daily operations and oversaw staff, volunteers, fundraising, and community partnerships. She also worked as project manager and historic preservation lead at R&K Solutions, Inc., directing preservation projects that resulted in museum exhibitions such as one at the Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville, Florida.

Reflecting on her new role, Kincaid Brady said, “My love for space history began during my childhood visits to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Joining the New Mexico Museum of Space History feels like coming full circle. I’m excited to continue advancing the museum’s mission to share the stories of innovation, exploration, and discovery that define both New Mexico and our journey into space.”

As executive director, Kincaid Brady will be responsible for overseeing the museum’s operations, exhibitions, research initiatives, and educational programming.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History is located in Alamogordo and is dedicated to preserving and sharing the state’s contributions to space exploration and research. It operates as a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.

Kincaid Brady holds master’s degrees in historic preservation from the University of Texas at Austin and in history from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She also has a graduate certificate in historic preservation from UT San Antonio. Her academic work includes a study titled Preservation Moon: Defining and Preserving the Cultural Landscape of Tranquility Base.

The museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate and highlights New Mexico’s significant role in the U.S. Space Program. It features the International Space Hall of Fame and the New Horizons Dome Theater.

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