Our Leadership

Dale Dye was born Oct. 8, 1944, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He graduated as a cadet officer from Missouri Military Academy, but there was no money for college, so he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in January 1964. He served in Vietnam in 1965 and 1967 through 1970, surviving 31 major combat operations.

James Hessler is an award-winning Civil War historian, author, speaker, and Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park, where he has been interpreting the battle since 2003. Recognized for his ability to bring complex history to life with clarity, depth, and humor, Hessler is one of the most respected voices in Gettysburg scholarship and public history today.

Timothy H. Smith is a historian, author, and educator who has served as a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park for more than 25 years. Named the Official Historian of Adams County in 2023, Tim began his career with the Adams County Historical Society in the late 1980s as a volunteer research assistant.

Dr. Jared Frederick is the author/co-author of numerous books, including Dispatches of D-Day, HangTough, Fierce Valor, and Into the Cold Blue. He has appeared on PBS, C-SPAN, and Turner Classic Movies.

Chris Mowery is the creator and host of the popular YouTube channel Vlogging Through History, a multi-platform educational enterprise dedicated to making the past accessible and engaging for a global audience.

Matthew Leitch is an English actor, known for his portrayal of Floyd Talbert in the award-winning HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. He also starred in the 2006 action film The Detonator.

Bill Shea, world-renowned militaria expert, has been a regular fixture within the militaria collecting community for the past six decades. In addition to contributing to over forty reference books on WWII Collectibles, he has co-authored an acclaimed reference book entitled “The Collector’s Guide to the Distinctive Cloth Headgear of the Allgemeine and Waffen-SS”.

As a registered architect for over thirty years, Bob is perhaps the only architect in the country who has also served as president and C.E.O. of a hospital and health services foundation. 

Tim Montana is more than a chart-topping musician — he’s a storyteller shaped by grit, gratitude, and a deep respect for those who serve. Raised in the mountains of Montana, Tim learned early the value of hard work, loyalty, and patriotism.

Victoria Seabol is an attorney dedicated to public service and historical preservation. She brings a strong background in veterans’ law and advocacy to the Gettysburg Museum of History Foundation, where she is passionate about honoring the legacy of American service members and preserving the stories that shaped the nation’s history.

Erik L. Dorr is the founder and curator of the Gettysburg Museum of History and the guiding force behind the Gettysburg Museum of History Foundation. A fourth-generation Adams County resident, Erik’s roots trace directly to Ziegler’s Grove—his family’s farm, Pfeffer farm was on the site of Pickett’s Charge where many of the earliest artifacts in the museum’s collection were originally found.