DAYTON, OHIO—Dayton History, Montgomery County’s official historical organization, announced today the promotion of Alex Heckman into the newly created position of Vice President for Museum Operations. Building upon his 18 years of experience with the organization, Heckman will provide expanded strategic oversight for educational mission and public programming, exhibit development and collection care, guest services and museum store functions, and the overall daily operations for Carillon Historical Park and Dayton History’s eight other museum properties.
“I have had the pleasure of working closely with Alex on a vast range of projects during the past 15 years. He joined me in representing Carillon Historical Park in the process that created Dayton History in 2005, and he has been central to the organization’s growth ever since,” stated President & CEO Brady Kress. “In his newly expanded role, Alex will help Dayton History achieve the goals and objectives outlined in our newly adopted strategic plan. His expanded duties coincide with an exciting period of transformation for Carillon Historical Park. With $10 million in construction projects currently underway, and numerous other enhancements envisioned in our new physical master plan, we are moving closer to establishing Carillon Park as one of the nation’s premier historical destinations.”
A recognized authority on the lives and work of the Wright brothers, Heckman has appeared on nationwide broadcasts on the History Channel, C-Span, American Public Media, and the BBC. He has conducted tours for thousands of people over the years, including actors Tom Hanks and Martin Sheen, astronauts Neil Armstrong and John Glenn, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, and Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough.
Since 2006, Heckman has served on the City of Dayton’s Landmark Commission. He is a 2011 graduate of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Dayton program and is the Day Chair of the program’s annual Dayton’s Rich Heritage Day. He is a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the Dayton Police History Foundation; Co-Chair of the Judges Committee of the Dayton Region’s Walk of Fame; Board Member of Aviation Trail Incorporated; member of the City of Oakwood’s Property Maintenance Board; and past Board Member and Advisor of the Oakwood Historical Society.
A proud native of the Dayton region, Alex Heckman earned both his Bachelor of Science in Education and his Master of Public Administration degrees from the University of Dayton. He is married to Dr. Emily Heckman, Senior Research Engineer with the Air Force Research Laboratory Sensors Directorate at Wright Patterson AFB. The couple has three children.