The builders of the New Kingdom were the pharaohs Ahmose (1550-1525), and Thutmose I (1504-1492).
A little while later the succession fell to another Thutmose (later Thutmose III), but he was then just a child.
His step-mother, Hatshepsut, ruled with him for a while, but then decided to rule on her own instead. But pharaohs had to be kings...