Museum Muse has two founding partners: Becky Dove and Joe Judge
Elizabeth Dove, Managing Partner for Museum Muse LLC, holds an M.A. in American History and a certificate in Museum Studies from the University of Delaware. She has worked in museums for more than three decades in Delaware, Louisiana, California, and Virginia, prior to opening Museum Muse LLC in 2020. From 1989-2016, Ms. Dove served as Director of the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, an official U.S. Navy Museum. In 1994, she oversaw the relocation of the Hampton Roads Naval Museum from Naval Base Norfolk to the downtown Norfolk waterfront. Through her dedication, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum became the first museum in the Department of Defense to move into a non-Federal facility. Later, from 2000-2009, she and her staff operated USS Wisconsin as a historic visit ship for the U.S. Navy. In 2009, the Director of Naval History presented her with the Department of the Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award for her accomplishments in gaining accreditation for the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, a feat accomplished by fewer than 4% of all museums in the United States. Upon her retirement in September, 2016, the Chief of Naval Operations bestowed the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award, the highest Department of the Navy award for civil servants. Ms. Dove then jumped ship to St Augustine, Florida to serve as an Adjunct History Professor at Flagler College, completing her work there in 2020 in order to open Museum Muse LLC.
Ms. Dove is an active participant in the museum field. A former member of the board of the Virginia Association of Museums, she currently donates her time as a peer reviewer for the American Alliance of Museums. In the Hampton Roads community, Ms. Dove served as an advisory board member for the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways History Foundation, and was on the Board of Trustees for St Andrews United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach. She is a 2000 graduate of LEAD Hampton Roads, one of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s strongest consortium of developing leaders. She became the 2014 recipient of the South Hampton Roads YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, Military Category. From 2018-2019 in St Augustine, she was one of seven chosen by the City Manager to form a Contextualization Committee for the Confederate Memorial. In 2019, Ms. Dove worked on the local arrangements committee for the Keeping History Above Water Conference in St. Augustine. Ms. Dove is a member of Memorial Presbyterian Church in historic downtown St Augustine. In December, 2022, she was inducted into the Daughters of the American Revolution, Maria Jefferson Chapter. Ms. Dove currently lives on Anastasia Island, St Augustine Beach. While not working at Museum Muse LLC, you’ll find her on the beach or on a bike.
Joe Judge
Joe Judge is a native son of Washington DC. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the College of William and Mary and a Master’s from the University of Virginia. Mr. Judge began working in the museum field during his 20’s. He contributed to the success of the Douglas MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia, first as its curator and later as its acting director. His favorite memory of working there is meeting the American military legend’s widow Jean during her several visits to the museum.
In 1990, Mr. Judge landed aboard the Hampton Roads Naval Museum where he served as curator and acting director, earning the museum accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums on the first go-round. Less than 4% of the country’s 33,000 museums hold this honor of accreditation.
In 2001, Mr. Judge helped to relocate the Hampton Roads Naval Museum from its home on the Norfolk Naval Station into the City’s newly-built waterfront locale Nauticus, the National Maritime Center. He then undertook the task of adding USS Wisconsin into the Hampton Roads Naval Museum’s responsibilities. This WWII era battleship increased annual visitor attendance to over 400,000 per year, making the Hampton Roads Naval Museum one of the Commonwealth’s most visited historic attractions. Prince Philip was among its many VIP guests.
Mr. Judge ended his federal career on Halloween 2019 after the museum opened a major exhibit about the US Navy in Vietnam for the War’s 50th anniversary. He retired from federal service in order to undertake another adventure-standing up Museum Muse, LLC. The Navy Department thanked Mr. Judge’s service by awarding him its highest honor for federal employees: the Navy Superior Civil Service Award,
An active participant and trainer in the museum field, Joe Judge has enjoyed working for many clients since the standup of Museum Muse. Together with the firm’s managing partner and 26 associates, Mr. Judge adheres to a goal that reflects his personal philosophy: to provide excellent service and have fun while performing the task at hand.
Museum Muse’s headquarters is located in Virginia Beach, VA. Joe Judge divides his time there and in St Augustine, Florida. While traveling between Florida and Virginia he listens to his favorite podcasts Hardcore History and Astonishing Legends. He is a Washington, D.C. Nationals fan (a birthright.)
Museum Muse depends upon the talents of 26 associates. This quarter we feature Founding Member Associate Marta Nelson.
Marta Nelson loves a challenge. As the exhibit designer for the Hampton Roads Naval Museum every day was just that. Her 20+ year career took her from the drafting table to (literally) the landing deck of Navy carriers. Marta was responsible for exhibits, project management, graphic design and museum lighting. Her work can be seen throughout the Tidewater area at local Navy commands, the City of Norfolk, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and Battleship Wisconsin (BB 64).
A team player, she received numerous awards and accolades for her many talents. Marta graduated from the Colorado Institute of Art with a degree in Interior Design. She enhanced her career with courses in photography, graphic art, lighting and textiles. She also holds a DOD certificate as a Journeyman Sheetmetal (Aircraft) Mechanic. Marta’s attention to detail, along with her subtle wit, gives each exhibit a memorable twist. In 2016, upon retirement from the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, she was awarded the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award.
Since 2016, Marta has worked as a Graphic Design Contractor and has created artwork and logo designs for promotional products and exhibit design for institutions. Clients include the United States Tennis Association, Appalachian State University, Watauga County, Town of Boone, GE Aviation, Chetola Resort and Spa, Broyhill Equestrian Center, Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show, Mast General Store, Ashe County, and Old Dominion University.
Marta became the first founding member associate for Museum Muse in 2020. She loves being part of a team that welcomes a challenge. Her first Museum Muse project involved designing a portable exhibit about arctic buoys with a polar bear mascot. A resident of Florida, she spends quality time in Norfolk, Virginia and Boone, North Carolina, taking her cat Sadie on the road with her.