Born: United States of America
Primarily active in: United States of America

1930-2025

Eugene “Gene” Buckley

Former President & CEO, Sikorsky Aircraft | Visionary Leader in Vertical Flight

The vertical flight community mourns the loss of Eugene “Gene” Buckley, a U.S. Air Force veteran and longtime leader at Sikorsky Aircraft, Gene left an indelible mark on the rotorcraft industry and inspired generations of engineers and executives with his vision, humility, and integrity.

Born on September 6, 1930, in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, Gene served his country during the Korean conflict before beginning a distinguished career in aerospace. Over more than two decades at Sikorsky Aircraft, he rose through the ranks to become President and CEO, helping to guide the company through critical military and commercial programs and advancing the state of the art in rotorcraft technology.

Beyond his many technical and business accomplishments, Gene Buckley was revered for his leadership style—grounded in wisdom, clarity, and conviction. As fellow rotorcraft pioneer Nick Lappos recounted:

“Dick Wright asked me to present to the executive council a plan for a traffic safety radar. I had a set of slides—how we’d use it, and how much it would cost. As I started, a couple of Gene’s vice presidents began to sharp-shoot the costs and derail the discussion.

Gene looked around the room and calmly said, ‘Let’s pretend that last week we had a midair collision. Now let’s restart this meeting and decide how that would never happen again.’

I restarted from slide one, and the proposal was smoothly approved. Gene didn’t dictate—he led by setting the vision. That’s what made him a masterful leader.

His favorite quote was: ‘You want to be smart? Be smart in the shower. Then come out and make the customer happy!’”

Gene’s ability to reframe challenges and inspire alignment defined his tenure and earned the deep respect of colleagues across the industry.

Gene Buckley passed away peacefully at his home in Juno Beach, Florida, on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at the age of 94.

The Vertical Flight Society, Vertiflite magazine, and the entire rotorcraft community honor Gene Buckley’s memory and legacy. His contributions continue to lift our industry—both literally and figuratively.

Source: Obituaries: Vertiflite, September/October 2025