James C. Mackay, director of the Lyceum, has been appointed acting director of the Office of Historic Alexandria by city manager James Hartmann.
Mackay replaces Jean Taylor Federico who retired Dec. 30 after 22 years.
Mackay, a 17-year city employee, served as assistant director for Gadsby's Tavern Museum prior to becoming the Lyceum's director. He has also worked at historic sites for the National Park Service in Massachusetts and Colorado as well as Colonial Williamsburg and the Jamestown Settlement.
With a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and a master's degree in American History from George Mason University, Mackay has a wide range of expertise in the American colonial period, according to the city manager's office. The Office of Historic Alexandria is charged with the collection, preservation, and interpretation of city owned historic sites and programs for the public.
"I'm very sorry to see Jean leave, but I look forward to continuing the fine progress we've made over the years under her care for Alexandria's historic resources," Hartmann said. "Alexandria has an incredibly rich history, and residents and tourists deserve the highest quality of care for their sites and collections."