Wings Over the Rockies (Wings) Air & Space Museum announced that its new president and CEO is Marcus A. Harshaw, Jr. He started at Wings on Jan. 6 and succeeds John L. Barry, Maj Gen, USAF (Ret) who led Wings with vision and dedication since January of 2017.
“This year Wings starts a new chapter and welcomes Marcus, whose exceptional museum leadership and experience will propel our mission to educate, inspire and excite the next generation of aviation and space explorers,” said Charlie Johnson, Wings Board Chairman.
With nearly 20 years of experience, Harshaw formerly served as the Associate Museum Director for Experiences at Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, Penn. where he oversaw strategic development and operational direction for museum and STEM outreach programs that engaged over 500,000 guests annually. He also served as Vice President of Learning & Facilities at Kaleideum, an innovative and dynamic experiential learning museum in Winston-Salem, NC.
“Marcus’ proven leadership in driving museum growth, creating exceptional visitor experiences, and building strong community partnerships makes him the ideal leader to shape Wings’ future,” added Johnson.
Harshaw currently serves as an adjunct lecturer for Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs. He earned his Master of Arts in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts in History, cum laude, from Northern Kentucky University.
“I’m excited to start at Wings and look forward to working with staff, members, volunteers and community partners,” said Harshaw. “My goal is to elevate the museum to new heights, sharing the future of aviation and space exploration.”
As Wings’ new President and CEO, Harshaw will focus on enhancing visitor experiences, expanding Wings’ educational programs, strengthening community impact, and driving innovation at both the Air & Space Museum in Lowry and Exploration of Flight campus at Centennial Airport.