Since February 2025, Byron has been on leave to manage the U.S. National Archives in Washington, DC; Joe Lopez is now Chief Operating Officer
YORBA LINDA, CA —— After a 14-month leave of absence in Washington, D.C., Jim Byron resumed his role as President and CEO of the Richard Nixon Foundation on April 6, 2026.
In February 2025, Byron was appointed by President Donald Trump to manage the National Archives and Records Administration day to day as Senior Advisor to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in his capacity as Acting Archivist of the United States. From December 2025 to April 2026, Byron served with the authority of the Archivist of the United States.
“It was an honor to serve my country by managing an important federal agency but family and home called me back to California,” Byron said. “There’s more work to do to advance President Nixon’s legacy and I’m ready to get back to it.”
Resuming his role, Byron intends to continue and build upon the Foundation’s programs to advance President Nixon’s legacy for longterm mission success and impact. He was elected by the Board of Directors in November 2021.
Nixon Foundation Chairman Ambassador Robert O’Brien said: “The entire Board of Directors is grateful to Jim for giving this important assignment from President Trump his all, and beginning many of our country’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The results of his service will benefit the United States for years to come, and we now look forward to working with him again.”
When the Board of Directors granted Byron’s leave of absence, it named Joe Lopez Acting President and CEO. Lopez was the Foundation’s Vice President for Communications and Marketing, and has now been named Chief Operating Officer, effective April 6, 2026.
Lopez said, “Leading the Nixon Foundation has only deepened my commitment to President Nixon’s legacy. The Foundation team did outstanding work over the past year and it’s great to have Jim back to build on that momentum.”
Ambassador O’Brien said, “Joe Lopez has been a reliable and steady hand at the helm. The entire Board of Directors is grateful to Joe for his leadership and looks forward to continuing to work closely with him in his new role.”
James T. (Jim) Byron Biography
James T. Byron is President and CEO of the Richard Nixon Foundation.
Byron served in the Trump Administration with the authority of the Archivist of the United States charged with management of the National Archives and Records Administration, a federal agency home to the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights that also administers the nationwide system of presidential libraries. Leading up to America’s 250th birthday, he launched nationwide celebratory programs, including The Freedom Plane National Tour of Founding-era documents.
Byron was elected President and CEO of the Nixon Foundation in November 2021 at the age of 28. He prioritized scaling the Foundation’s programming nationwide, expanding its online and social media impact, and led a capital campaign to support civics education.
Byron is a native of Santa Monica, California and grew up in Orange County. He is a graduate of Chapman University, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a Minor in History. He is a member of the Board of Directors of The Pacific Club in Newport Beach.
He lives in Washington, D.C. and Orange County and enjoys playing tennis and golf.
About the Richard Nixon Foundation
The Richard Nixon Foundation preserves and advances the legacy and vision of President Richard Nixon. The Nixon Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that owns and co-operates the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum campus with the National Archives. The Nixon Foundation encourages and supports scholarship, sponsors programs that engage the public with American history and civics, creates and displays special exhibits, and convenes forums for discussion and debate about America’s 37th president.
