Richard Benge steps down and Larry Keim steps up
KUSMT Chair, Richard Benge, has recently resigned as Chair, a position he’s held for the last seven years. He has been replaced, by Major Larry Keim.
Formerly the Cultural Affairs Specialist for the Embassy of the United States of America in Wellington, Richard succeeded former Mayor Jenny Rowan, as Chair in 2018. He and Jenny were both foundation members of the Trust and responsible for its original direction. Richard helped secure KUSMT’s first grant from the US Embassy.
Executive Secretary, Allie Webber, said: “Over the past seven years Richard has brought warmth, passion, and a cool head to the leadership to the Trust. He will be greatly missed. Richard has been an excellent spokesperson and public advocate and has also been our ceremonial guru - the ‘maestro’ behind all our successful events.
Under his leadership the Trust has up-graded its website; secured and restored WWII Norm Hatch Collection of films and photographs from the United States and made them available to the public of New Zealand; designed and built the Camp Paekākāriki Memorial and begun work on a new Marines Trailway across all three camp sites.”
Richard is the Executive Director of Arts Access Aotearoa – advocating for accessible arts in New Zealand and was awarded an MNZM in 2024. He will remain as a voluntary consultant to the Trust for specific assignments and has been appointed a Life Member.
Major Larry Keim, USMC (Ret) is also a foundation member of the Trust; he is Chair of the New Zealand American Association.
Larry enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1969 as an infantryman; his military career took him to many countries from Vietnam to Somalia, the Western Sahara and multiple deployments in the Western Pacific.
After gaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Sacramento in 1977, he became a Commissioned Officer in the Marine Corps where he served as an Infantry/Reconnaissance officer. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1996.
Before moving to New Zealand in 2005 he worked as a forensics contractor for the FBI and undertook defence contracts in South Korea and Japan. He subsequently worked for the Department of Labour/MBIE for retiring in 2015. Larry now lives with his family in Raumati Beach.