Alexandria, Va. (July 15, 2015) – Christopher Martino (USCG, Ret.) has joined Helicopter Association International (HAI) as the association’s new vice president of operations. He will oversee HAI’s flight operations, technical services, safety, and regulatory efforts. He will also work closely with HAI’s education department to ensure operators’ professional development needs are being met.
“Our operations department is vitally important to HAI’s mission, which is to support and promote the helicopter industry,” said HAI President and CEO Matt Zuccaro. “The Operations Department works on the day-to-day issues that face commercial and general aviation operators as well as manufacturers to ensure a safe, efficient, and economically viable operating environment.”
Martino recently retired as the chief of the United States Guard Aviation Forces, capping a distinguished 30-year career with the Coast Guard. He has more than 4,000 flight hours as a rotary-wing pilot. As chief of aviation forces, he oversaw the service’s program of more than 4,100 personnel at 28 units, operating 200 aircraft flying more than 100,000 flight hours per year. Martino has also served as the Commanding Officer and Group Commander for Coast Guard units responsible for search and rescue missions along 250 miles of northern California coastline, as well as Executive Officer of the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center.
“I am excited for this opportunity that allows me to support and promote the helicopter industry. Across the globe, our members provide remarkable services to their customers each and every day. I look forward to helping them achieve their goals through the services and programs offered by HAI.”
Helicopter Association International is a professional trade association representing some 4,000 members around the globe in more than 70 nations. HAI's members safely operate more than 5,000 helicopters approximately 2.5 million hours each year. HAI is dedicated to the promotion of the helicopter as a safe, effective method of commerce, and to the advancement of the international helicopter community.
