Daina Penkiunas recently retired as Wisconsin's State Historic Preservation Officer after 25 years with the State Historic Preservation Office at the Wisconsin Historical Society. Career highlights include shepherding several National Historic Landmark nominations to completion, working with Menominee Nation on the nomination of their ancestral home Anaem Omot, and helping to realize efforts to revitalize Milwaukee's historic National Soldiers Home campus.

Daina has over 30 years experience in the field of historic preservation and architectural history, having worked as a college lecturer, private consultant, and for the Hawaii State Historic Preservation Office. Daina holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, and Masters of Architectural History and PhD from the University of Virginia.