The MAPS Air Museum Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Keith W. Bucklew as Executive Director, effective March 14, 2026. He succeeds Kim Kovesci, who retired following 14 years of leadership and service to the North Canton, Ohio-based institution. Bucklew, a retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, brings more than two decades of leadership experience in both military and commercial aviation. A Marine Corps aviator, he accumulated over 2,200 mishap-free flight hours, including more than 800 combat hours.
After completing AV-8B Harrier training in 2005, Bucklew deployed twice between 2006 and 2007, flying combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. He later deployed again in 2009 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In a notable connection to the museum’s collection, MAPS Air Museum recently received an AV-8B Harrier on loan from the U.S. Marine Corps—an aircraft Bucklew previously flew during combat operations in the Middle East. Since 2022, Bucklew has also served as a commercial pilot with UPS Airlines.
His appointment brings to the museum a combination of operational aviation experience and organizational leadership, along with a stated emphasis on credibility, transparency, and collaboration—principles central to nonprofit and museum management, particularly in organizations supported by volunteers, donors, and the broader community. Bucklew resides in Hartville, Ohio, with his wife and three children. For more information about the MAPS Air Museum, visit www.mapsairmuseum.org.
