Captain Henry A. Vadnais Jr.

Head, Curator Branch, Naval Historical Center

Capt. Vadnais was a career US Navy officer, serving in the Korean War and later becoming the Head of the Curator Branch at the Naval Historical Center. As the Navy’s Chief Curator, he tracked down and preserved a number of invaluable historical items. In 1987, he received the HNSA Casper J. Knight Jr. Award which is presented to individuals or organizations who have contributed in a major way, usually over a considerable length of time, to the preservation and exhibition of historic naval ships, and to the goals and work of the Historic Naval Ships Association.

The Henry A. Vadnais Jr. award was created in 1997, presented annually to a staff person at a Fleet Member organization for particularly outstanding service rendered to his or her organization, with preference given to persons working in the areas of curatorship, collections management, exhibits or registration.