I have often said that veterans are the vault of values. Capt. Chris Cassidy has demonstrated this throughout his career as a distinguished Navy SEAL, NASA’s chief astronaut and the CEO and president of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation. Veterans exemplify the values of courage, service, sacrifice, integrity and commitment. But Capt. Cassidy’s time at the helm of the museum shows those values can be carried beyond military or even government service.
As a leader, he demonstrated how values-driven leadership can build institutions that strengthen our nation and bring people together, especially at a time when we need it most.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with him side-by-side on the Museum Foundation’s board of directors as we built a permanent home to preserve and share the stories of Medal of Honor recipients. With the recent announcement of his upcoming departure from the museum, I congratulate Chris on his accomplished tenure. He oversaw the construction of this historic project, from its groundbreaking to grand opening. Since that wonderful night in March, tens of thousands of visitors — including hundreds of local schoolkids — have passed through the museum’s doors and been awed by the power of this place and the stories contained within.
Through his leadership, Chris proved himself to be more than a vault of values but also one of its dedicated guardians — one who protects them, ensuring that the values that define us as a nation are honored, preserved and passed down to future generations. With family-friendly events like FreedomFest on the Fourth of July and a dynamic speaker series, the museum has quickly established itself as a pillar of North Texas. And thanks to the work Chris has done to establish the Griffin Institute, the values of the medal are being used to cultivate leaders across the country.
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Whether on a battlefield in Afghanistan or 250 miles above the earth’s surface, Chris has always been guided by a dedication to doing the right thing, accepting the weight of responsibility for his team, his mission and the reputation of our great nation. Because of that moral compass, my fellow Medal of Honor recipients and I saw a kindred spirit in him. And this is what made Chris the ideal man for the job when the board of directors was in search of a president and CEO in 2021. Chris spoke the language of Medal of Honor recipients, not in words or slogans but in the values we live by, giving his leadership weight and authenticity that no title alone could provide.
Those same values found their fullest expression at the National Medal of Honor Museum. Chris did more than oversee the raising of steel beams and concrete. He rallied people together around the mission to inspire America by helping bring Medal of Honor recipients into classrooms and communities, ensuring our stories — and those of our comrades who didn’t make it back home — are preserved so that young people can draw lessons from our actions serving our country and our fellow Americans. He brought together veterans, business leaders and citizens to sustain this important project. Through his values-driven leadership, he positioned the museum not just as a place that honors Medal of Honor recipients but uses our example to inspire others to make a difference in their own communities.
Perhaps most important, Chris has always been adept at bringing people together for something greater than themselves. He did it in the teams he led under fire as a combat veteran and in the crews he guided in space as an astronaut. This same ability to bring strong coalitions together is what brought the National Medal of Honor Museum to life.
As we’ve traveled the country together to speak about the medal and the museum, I’ve seen first-hand how Chris conveys the unifying spirit that powers our important mission.
As Chris steps away, he leaves a lasting legacy at the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation. He did more than build a facility and open doors. He also helped unlock the vault of values for a nation that needs them desperately, making certain that Americans of all generations and walks of life are reminded that the values of citizenship and patriotism, commitment and integrity, courage and sacrifice are not isolated to the battlefield. Rather, they can also be found in boardrooms, classrooms and communities across America.
They are certainly found wherever Chris goes. As we wish Capt. Cassidy the best of luck in his newest endeavor, we look forward to how he will carry on the values of the Medal of Honor to the next chapter of his career, and we’re excited to soon welcome a new leader to continue building his tremendous work and the legacy of this new national treasure.
Retired Maj. Gen. Patrick H. Brady is a Medal of Honor recipient.