Portland, Oregon, United States
Type-rated AS332 Super Puma Captain, AS350/H125 multi-mission pilot, aviation leader, and standardization professional with more than 27 years of experience spanning U.S. Coast Guard, public service, and commercial helicopter operations. Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, Coast Guard Wall of Valor inductee, and National Aircrew of the Year recognized for leadership in high-risk search and rescue, disaster response, and aviation operations. Throughout my career, I have led complex flight operations in search and rescue, disaster response, wildfire suppression, maritime operations, heliski support, and other high-consequence mission environments. While operational flying remains a core passion, my greatest professional interest is building the systems, standards, and training programs that enable pilots and organizations to perform safely and effectively at scale. I specialize in aviation standardization across multiple aircraft, mission sets, and pilot backgrounds. My experience includes developing and implementing SOPs, checklists, qualification programs, examiner standards, operational risk management processes, and training curricula that improve consistency, safety, and mission effectiveness to entire enterprises. I enjoy bringing together pilots from diverse operational cultures and creating common frameworks that support both individual growth and organizational excellence. As an instructor, examiner, and aviation leader, I have designed tailored training products for new-hire onboarding, aircraft transitions, mission qualification programs, and the adoption of new technologies and software platforms serving hundreds of stakeholders. My approach blends operational realism with modern instructional methods, recognizing that effective training must be practical, scalable, and adaptable to different learning styles. Whether leading air operations during disaster response, supporting USFS fire contracts, mentoring developing pilots, or building standardization programs for multi-aircraft organizations, I am driven by a simple objective: creating safer, more capable aviation teams through disciplined standards, continuous improvement, and a commitment to professional development.
Type-rated AS332 Super Puma, AS350/H125. PIC Fire, Ski and shipboard pilot. AS332: Executing nation-wide USFS helitack missions including Part 135 high-capacity personnel transport, rappel and ground insertion, and long-line cargo, water and equipment delivery. Responsible for planning and safe flight operation within DOI and interagency fire suppression policy and aircraft movement to meet contractual obligations. AS350 and H125: Part 135 USFS Helitack, carded in all the above + Alaska shipboard operations + heli-ski operation in Washington’s North Cascade mountains.
• PIC/Flight Examiner/Instructor Pilot AS365: executes SAR, trains/evaluates unit pilots in safe aircraft operations/standardization. • Directs unit search and rescue/training flight operations for geographically dispersed pilots and crew in the largest INCONUS maritime/mountainous operating area. • Created and administers Mountain Flying Training program, teaches high-altitude rescue techniques, power management, wind & terrain analysis, approach to HOGE, and cliff-rescue. •. Leads Aviation Operations Division in the administration of unit training/qualification program. • Extensive flight experience conducting confined area landings in mountainous terrain and over water/high-angle land hoists in all weather day and night. • ICS Air Operations Branch Director: interagency operations with state and local first responders for inland Search and Rescue/Medical Evacuations. • Trains unit pilots in ship landings & operations aboard USCG, Navy, Army, and Canadian Forces vessels.
• Chief Instructor, Advanced Helicopter Rescue School. Provided academic and in-cockpit instruction in high seas, breaking surf, cliffs and urban environments to best-of-class fleet instructors. •. Fleet Standardization Instructor Pilot/Examiner. Performed Initial type qualifications, recurrent annual proficiency training & standardization evaluations for 19 USCG air stations. Trained 580 USCG pilots in aerodynamics, aircraft systems, Search & Rescue (SAR) Tactics, Techniques & Procedures, Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), interpersonal communication skills & relationships, Crew Resource Management (CRM), Operational Risk Management (ORM), and Methods of Instruction (MOI). • Authored H-60 and AS365 Helicopter Rescue tactics, techniques, and procedures manual and developed the service’s power management protocol and mountain flying programs. • Evaluated annual Instrument, Night Vision Goggles, Standardization, and SAR Procedures check flights. • Chaired Flight Examining and Standards committees. • Four years’ experience leading inter-agency high-risk training program. • Chief, Air Operations Manager for 55+ aircraft international response to a category five hurricane (2019) resulting in 465 lives saved. • Led all aspects of unit flight training/proficiency planning & execution. • Led initial life-saving efforts during a domestic disaster, 120 people saved in Houston, TX. • Lead fleet subject matter expert in simulator-based hoist training. • Trained unit pilots in ship landings & operations aboard various USCG, Navy and Canadian Forces vessels.
• MH-65C/D Dolphin (AS365) Aircraft Commander: Pilot in Command (PIC) in conduct of search and rescue, law enforcement and training missions along 350nm shoreline. • Demonstrated expert knowledge of aircraft systems, emergency procedures, meteorology, navigation, shipboard operations & FAA regulations. • Flew day/night VMC/IMC rescue missions in coastal waters of CA, OR, and WA. • Safely led diverse crew of 4, avoided flight hazards incl icing, thunderstorms, hurricanes, fog. Conducted detailed flight planning, weight & balance, performance calculations for missions with little notice. Supervised crew during at-sea rescues in challenging sea conditions. Planned & conducted cross-country flights through international airspace, deployed 90 days to USCG ships on high seas, safely operated aboard ships using USCG & ICAO procedures, ensured sufficient HOGE power available during approaches for safe One-Engine-Inoperative (OEI) flyaway. • Organization drug policy enforcement. • Educational benefits training systems advisor and testing proctor. • Led international operational delegation to conduct joint counter-narcotics flight team.
• U.S. Joint Advanced Flight Training: 18 months of intensive academics and flight evaluations (T-6B and TH-57C/Bell 206). Emphasis on aerodynamics, systems, emergency procedures, meteorology, aerobatics, formations, navigation, instrument flight, and NVG operations.
• Hoist operator check airman. Ensured fleetwide platform standardization of aircrew and hoisting operating practices, accumulating 1,600 crew flight hours. • High-risk training instructor at Advanced Helicopter Rescue School. • Authored fleet-wide aircrew training program to the newest model of the airframe, including engine and avionics upgrades. • Chaired Flight Examining and Standards committees.
• Aviation Engineering Supervisor and Primary Quality Assurance Inspector on 5 MH-65C Dolphin Helicopters (AS365). • Avionics Shop Chief - Supervised crew of 11, provided maintenance and avionics/electrical troubleshooting support for five airframes. • Managed 43K total Maintenance/Man Labor Hours. Provided 24/7/365 Search and Rescue ready response in Oregon and Washington. • Search and Rescue aircrew hoist operator. Flight Mechanic Examiner/Instructor - 600 hours total flight time. • Enhanced customer satisfaction ratings by motivating team members to strengthen quality and increase productivity. • Organized succinct maintenance schedule/battle rhythm for 70 personnel to boost system performance/aircraft availability. • Optimized $3.9M in aircraft parts supply to keep stock within ideal parameters for expected needs. • Chaired Flight Examining and Standards committees.