Barry Smith, executive director of the Future of Flight Foundation, has announced he is stepping down toward the end of 2013.
At the foundation's November board meeting, Smith officially announced his intention to retire no later than the end of 2013. Smith said he decided to announce his retirement early to give the foundation time to recruit a replacement.
The Future of Flight Foundation, which Smith launched in December 2003, became the contracted operator of Snohomish County's Aviation Center and Boeing Tour and opened it to the public in 2005. Since then, the foundation has grown the Aviation Center's exhibit collection to more than $16 million in value while drawing 220,000 visitors per year and generating a $250,000 profit for Snohomish County.
Before starting the foundation, Smith worked as a private banker specializing in charitable transfer of privately held aircraft to aviation nonprofits. He is also the founder of the Everett Parks Foundation and the American Foundation for the Royal Air Force Museum and co-founder of the Greater Everett Community Foundation.
Smith is a graduate of Everett High School and the University of Washington.
