Alexandria, Va., Nov. 18, 2005 – After an exhaustive search, and a smooth transition, Matthew S. (Matt) Zuccaro officially assumed the office of HAI President on Nov. 1, 2005, replacing the retiring president, Roy Resavage, who had served in that capacity since March 1997.
Mr. Zuccaro, who approaches his duties with dedicated professionalism and enthusiasm, has been active in the helicopter industry for over 35 years. He was president of Zuccaro Industries, LLC, which provided domestic and international aviation consultation services, and specialized in helicopter related issues. He holds Airline Transport Pilot and Instrument Flight Instructor certificates for both airplanes and helicopters. During his 35-year career, Mr. Zuccaro has held several executive level and operations management positions, with commercial, corporate, scheduled airlines, and public service helicopter operations in the northeastern United States. During his tenure with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, he served in operations management positions at John F. Kennedy International Airport and the Port Authority's public and private heliports.
Mr. Zuccaro is no stranger to HAI. He is a former Chairman, and during his 20-year association with HAI, he has served as Vice Chairman, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer, as well as a Director for six years, and Special Advisor to the HAI Board. Mr. Zuccaro was instrumental in a number of key HAI initiatives, including the relocation of HAI to its current headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and the revision of HAI's by-laws. Additionally, he has served as either chairman or member of many HAI committees, as well as numerous industry research and task force groups. He is a recipient of HAI's "Salute to Excellence" Agusta Community Service Award and 10,000-Hour Helicopter Pilot Safety award, as well as numerous other industry awards for his achievements in and commitment to the helicopter industry. Mr. Zuccaro is also a member of the Twirly Birds.
Mr. Zuccaro is a past president and chairman of the Eastern Region Helicopter Council (ERHC). For the past 10 years he has served as a special advisor to ERHC's Board of Directors. In this capacity he has actively represented ERHC and its members in the promotion, development, and retention of heliports, community interface, public relations, regulatory, airspace, and infrastructure issues.
Mr. Zuccaro received his initial helicopter flight training as a U.S. Army aviator and served with the 7/17 Air Calvary unit in Vietnam. During his tour, Mr. Zuccaro earned several commendations to include two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Stars, and 19 Air Medals. He was subsequently assigned as a flight instructor at the Army Flight School at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Mr. Zuccaro has stated that HAI has an impressive record of serving its members effectively, and he wants to build on that. He is passionately committed to providing the membership with programs and services that directly benefit their operations.
HAI is the professional trade association for the civil helicopter industry. HAI's 1,350-plus-member organizations and 1,150 individual members, in more than 73 nations, safely operate more than 4,500 helicopters approximately 2.3 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 civil helicopter industry.
