User:Senojam/Ashley Hlebinsky

Ashley Hlebinsky is the Robert W. Woodruff Curator of the Cody Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Additionally, Hlebinsky is a museum consultant, freelance writer , NRA certified firearms instructor, international lecturer , and on-camera historian.

On January 18, 2017, Hlebinsky became the first female to have received the prestigious Grits Gresham Shooting Sports Communicator Award. Presented annually by the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), this award recognizes extraordinary achievements in communications in the areas of responsible firearms use, the shooting sports, and hunting. It is one of the highest achievements recognized by these organizations and it is presented during the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Academic and Museum Background
Hlebinsky holds a Bachelor and Master of Arts in American History, as well as a Certificate in Museum Studies from the University of Delaware. Her professional career began as a Firearms Researcher for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. at the National Museum of American History. Her responsibilities included selecting firearms which would be on loan to the Cody Firearms Museum, giving her a valuable connection to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

In 2013, Hlebinsky followed her passion for firearms history and moved to Cody, Wyoming as the Assistant Curator of the Cody Firearms Museum, one of five museums that comprise the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Cody, Wyoming is a gateway town for Yellowstone National Park and the Center's museums draw in thousands of visitors passing through. In 2015, Hlebinsky became the Robert W. Woodruff Curator of the Cody Firearms Museum for the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. She is responsible for daily operations including budgeting and staff management, researching and implementing exhibitions, maintaining and acquiring collections, conducts VIP tours, while publishing and lecturing internationally about firearms history.

Media Appearances

 * Mysteries at the Museum - Season 11, Episode 14 - Travel Channel
 * American Genius - Colt vs Wesson Episode - National Geographic
 * Gun Stories with Joe Montegna - recurring on-camera expert seasons 5 and 6 - Outdoor Channel
 * National Public Radio
 * Fox News
 * Women's Outdoor News
 * Outdoor Life
 * Shooting USA
 * NRA News
 * Gun Talk Media
 * National Shooting Sports Foundation

Professional Memberships

 * American Alliance of Museums
 * American Society of Arms Collectors
 * Winchester Arms Collectors Association
 * Remington Society of Arms Collectors
 * Weatherby Collectors Association (Life Membership)