Dr. Rob Havers, MA, FRSA, FRHistS
President and CEO

Dr. Havers serves as President and CEO of the American Civil War Museum. Prior to coming to the Museum, he served as President/CEO of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, President/CEO of the George C. Marshall Foundation, Director of the National Churchill Museum at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and as a Senior Lecturer in War Studies at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Havers graduated from Queen Mary University of London with a bachelor’s degree in history and politics; London School of Economics and Political Science with a master’s degree in later modern British history and Pembroke College, Cambridge with a Ph.D. He is a published author with several books and articles to his credit and is a widely respected lecturer on military history.

Cara Sisson
Chief of Staff

Cara supports the President and the ACWM Board with major gift fundraising, the planning and implementation of the new capital campaign, and helping with the day-to-day operations of the ACWM. She has over 25 years of experience in fundraising and development for a number of cultural and historical institutions, including over fourteen years at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, where she managed Major and Planned Giving Programs. Cara holds a bachelor’s degree from Hollins College and a master’s degree in Arts Administration from Virginia Tech.

David Flood
Chief Financial Officer & Director of Human Resources

David directs the budgetary process, day-to-day financial operations, and also human resources for the Museum.  Prior to joining ACWM, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Averhealth.  With over thirty years of national and international experience in financial strategy and leadership roles, David has led major corporate financial restructurings and established financial policies and controls. 

David holds an MBA from the Stern School of Business of New York University and a BS in Economics with a concentration in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Karen Huennekens
Director of Development and Events

Karen Huennekens joined the ACWM Museum staff as Director of Development and Events on August 1st, 2023. Having served in the fundraising non-profit sector for the past 13 years, Karen comes to the Museum from Richmond’s historic Woman’s Club at the Bolling Haxall House. Her prior experience includes positions in marketing and sales in the insurance industry.

Karen is a native Kentuckian with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Kentucky Gatton School of Business.

Kelly Hancock
Director of Programs

Kelly oversees programs and education at the American Civil War Museum for the general public, students, teachers, and senior adults, initiating the research, development, and implementation of programs for audiences both on- and off-site. A museum professional for over twenty years, she has a passion for uncovering history and bringing to light lesser-known stories from the past. Kelly is a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University.

Jeniffer Maloney
Director of Marketing & Public Relations

Jeniffer directs and implements promotional and public relations strategies for the Museum. She has more than two decades of experience in media and public relations for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations having served as Virginia Communications Director and Legislative Liaison for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and a lobbyist for the Virginia Realtors Association. She is also a former media strategies consultant and advisor to Virginia political candidates. Jeniffer is a graduate of Carson-Newman University.

Robert Hancock
Director of Collections & Senior Curator

Robert oversees the Museum’s objects collection, library and archives, while supervising the Collections Department staff. As Senior Curator, Robert has been at the ACWM for decades of his professional career. He corresponds with researchers from all over the United States providing scholarship and presentations about the Museum’s extensive collections. Robert is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University.

Bob Sayre
Director of Retail

Bob oversees aspects of the museum’s retail experience at all three ACWM sites. He has many years of experience in leadership roles at several national and international retail apparel businesses. Bob holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Virginia Tech.