Background & Experience

Joe is an experienced aviation manager as demonstrated in the many positions held, including Manager of Worldwide Helicopter Operations for Mobil Corporation; in managing both fixed and rotary wing operations for BHP Billiton Petroleum and BG Group; and creator and Chief Operating Officer of a startup helicopter operation in the Himalayas to support the Aga Khan Foundation in Pakistan.

He has a proven track record within both domestic and international operations that includes strong self-initiative with effective analytical and problem solving ability. He is highly respected throughout the industry for exceptional interpersonal skills, integrity, leadership, personnel development, and team building and participation.

Joe began his aviation career in his senior year at Pennsylvania Military College when he was one of seven cadets chosen to attend a US Army sponsored aviation program where he obtained his Private Pilot License, Single-Engine Airplane. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, he entered the Army as a Second Lieutenant and following Infantry Branch training, attended helicopter flight training. Immediately following completion of flight training, Joe was sent to Vietnam where he was assigned to an Assault Helicopter Company. During his twelve month tour he accumulated just under 1,400 combat flight hours, earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Silver Star, and 31 Air Medals. After completing his four year Active Duty obligation, Joe entered the commercial aviation industry, which includes the following career summary:

Served as an instructor pilot with Bristow Helicopters in Iran, training military pilots in the UH-1H (Huey)

Flew offshore for Bristow Helicopters in the North Sea sector of Scotland as an S-61N Captain as well as a UKCAA Instrument Rating and Training Examiner (IRE/TRE)

Started a US-based company for Bristow Helicopters (United Helicopters, Inc.) and initially flew insurance company executives between Hartford, CT and New York City, then offshore for Mobil and Chevron when the drilling off the New Jersey Coast began

Requested by Mobil Corporation to join as the Manager of Helicopter Operations worldwide, which required extensive overseas travel to monitor production operations and assist in establishing aviation support for new exploration ventures

Invited to create a helicopter operation from the ground up and serve as Chief Operating Officer of a new Helicopter Wing to support the humanitarian efforts of the Aga Khan Foundation's Rural Support Program in the Himalayan region of Pakistan

Contracted to review all offshore helicopter operators in China for the government-owned oil company

As one of the founding members of the Northwest Region of the Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC), initially served as the Safety & Training Manager, then added Environmental &Health to the portfolio. Well trained and experienced with the Incident Command System (ICS)

Performed part-time contract work for Hart Aviation to oversee aviation support operations for Western Mining Corporation (WMC) during leave periods with MSRC, then joined full-time with the primary responsibility for the oversight of aviation operations in support of BHP Billiton

Joined BHP Billiton as Senior Aviation Advisor for both the Minerals and Mining as well as Petroleum Divisions of the company. Principal duties included evaluating internal operations, managing aviation support for exploration and production, establishing aviation contractual requirements, and conducting operational audits on charter aircraft companies

Recruited by BG Group to become the Aviation Group Technical Authority with the responsibility to oversee all aviation activities within the Group, which required a complete overhaul and rewrite of the Group Aviation Standard

Following the completion of the Shell purchase of BG Group, Joe remained with Shell Aircraft for twelve months to assist with the transition of the BG Assets to their oversight by Shell Aircraft, and then for an additional sixteen months to assist with a project to simplify and clarify their Aviation Standard (Shell Group Requirements for Aircraft Operators, or SGRAO)