The Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum has welcomed a new executive director as its inaugural leader retires after 16 years.

Karen Sigler, of Kennebunk, will be the first paid employee to lead the museum, which was founded in 2009. John Briley, who served as the president and then executive director of the museum, worked on a volunteer basis to establish the museum on Brunswick Landing.

Sigler has experience in design, public relations and marketing, and museum work. In recent years, she developed and curated the Maine Classic Car Museum in Arundel. The opportunity to work at BNAM, another transportation-centric museum, was “perfect,” she said.

“My son and I had visited last year and he’s an avid aeronautics enthusiast and I saw the potential in that museum then,” Sigler said.

Throughout his time at the BNAM, former director Briley led negotiations with the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority and the Navy to acquire the former Brunswick Naval Air Station chapel, which now serves as the museum’s permanent home. He also oversaw the creation of a new front entrance to the museum as a part of the ongoing “Wheels up!” capital campaign.

“[BNAM is] at a pivotal moment with the capital campaign,” Sigler said of the $3 million fundraising effort. “The building restoration has already occurred and the next phase is to raise the full amount and see the building rehabilitated and have new, original exhibits as well.”

The 1960s chapel is “hallowed grounds for people that served and lived on the base,” Sigler said.

“It is a place that needs to be preserved, and this campaign is going to make that happen,” she said.

Under her tenure, Sigler hopes to bring the Naval Air Station’s history to the next generation with “forward-thinking” exhibits, she said.

“We’re putting out a call for people who have served or lived in the community and have a connection to the base,” she said. “We’re looking for volunteers to help us rebuild the staff and the museum.”

The museum has some exciting summer events coming up, in addition to its exhibits. On Friday, it will unveil its refurbished Lockheed P-2 Neptune aircraft. And the Claws n’ Country music festival, which benefits the museum, will take place at the Landing on Sunday.