At the June 2017 Board of Directors meeting Director Pete Hinz was unanimously elected as President of the MDMHS succeeding Lieutenant General (ret.) H. Steven Blum whose leadership and vision during his service as President saw substantial growth in both the Maryland Museum of Military History and the contributions of the MDMHS.

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Brigadier General (Ret) Peter (Pete) Hinz began his military career in 1971 with an enlistment in the United States Army, which included assignment to the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, as a Courier Specialist for the Armed Forces Courier Service. In 1978, he enlisted in the 121st Engineer Battalion (Combat) in the Maryland Army National Guard (MDARNG). After graduating from OCS in 1979, he served in the 121st Engineer Battalion until 2002, which included assignments as S-4 Company Commander, S-3 Executive Officer, and Battalion Commander. He served as the S-2/3 for the Division Support Command, 29th Infantry Division (Light) from 2003 to 2004. He also served as the Director of Facilities for the Maryland Army National Guard from 2004 through 2005. General Hinz commanded the 58th Troop Command from 2005 through 2008 and later served as Deputy Commanding General (Support) of the 29th Infantry Division. The culmination of General Hinz’s career was his selection as the Assistant Adjutant General - Army for the Maryland National Guard and as the Maryland Army National Guard Commander, in which he served from 2010 through 2013.

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Brigadier General (Ret) Peter (Pete) Hinz began his military career in 1971 with an enlistment in the United States Army, which included assignment to the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, as a Courier Specialist for the Armed Forces Courier Service. In 1978, he enlisted in the 121st Engineer Battalion (Combat) in the Maryland Army National Guard (MDARNG). After graduating from OCS in 1979, he served in the 121st Engineer Battalion until 2002, which included assignments as S-4 Company Commander, S-3 Executive Officer, and Battalion Commander. He served as the S-2/3 for the Division Support Command, 29th Infantry Division (Light) from 2003 to 2004. He also served as the Director of Facilities for the Maryland Army National Guard from 2004 through 2005. General Hinz commanded the 58th Troop Command from 2005 through 2008 and later served as Deputy Commanding General (Support) of the 29th Infantry Division. The culmination of General Hinz’s career was his selection as the Assistant Adjutant General - Army for the Maryland National Guard and as the Maryland Army National Guard Commander, in which he served from 2010 through 2013.

General Hinz is a graduate of the Army War College, the Army Command and General Staff College, Engineer Officer Advanced and Basic Courses, Dual Status/Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Senior Transportation Officer Course, and Multi-Functional Combat Service Support Course. He holds Masters Degrees in Strategic Studies and in Management and a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature.

While serving in the MDARNG, he began his federal career as an exhibits specialist for the U.S. Pavilion in the 1982 World’s Fair and as the Administrative Officer for the U.S. Pavilion in the 1984 World’s Fair. He retired with twenty-nine years of federal service as a management/program analyst and a senior information technology specialist with the Departments of Commerce, Health and Human Services, and Justice.

His civilian and military affiliations include the Army Engineer Association, Association of the United States Army, National Guard Association of the United States, the National Guard Association of Maryland, the Maryland Military Historical Society, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Military Officers Association of America, the 29th Division Association, and the 121st Engineer Battalion Association.

General Hinz's decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, the Maryland Distinguished Service Cross and Meritorious Service Medal, the Virginia Bronze Star, and Silver and Bronze de Fleury Engineer Regimental Medals.