In one of the first major milestones on the operational side of the Capitol Visitor Center, the Architect of the Capitol’s office announced today that Terrie Rouse has been hired to run the new facility as chief executive officer for visitor services.

Rouse, who will join the AOC in September, is currently executive vice president and director of museums for Kansas City’s historic Union Station, a popular 900,000-square-foot tourist and commercial destination in Missouri.

Although the Architect will be responsible for the CVC, Congressional leaders created the CEOVS post in March as they began planning for the administration of a facility that is expected to open next fall. Rouse will be charged with long-term planning as well as day-to-day operations and be the facility’s point person when interacting with leadership and oversight committees. Rouse will have responsibility for the CVC’s yearly budget and be an outside spokeswoman for the new center. She also will oversee the Capitol Guide Service.

Prior to her employment at Union Station, Rouse worked at a variety of museums across the country including the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the New York Transit Museum and the Children’s Museum of Maine. She also served as executive director of the Atlanta Ballet.

“I am very impressed with Terrie’s knowledge, energy and passion for her work,” acting Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers said in a release. “Her experience as a museum professional, coupled with her work with non-profit and government agencies, gives her the unique qualifications necessary to prepare the CVC to receive its first visitors next fall and be the first-class visitor experience it was designed to be.”

A spokeswoman for Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), the chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, said her boss “is very pleased that [Rouse] has accepted this post and feels that she truly has the skills to do a great job with the CVC.”