Priority 1 Air Rescue names board with aviation heavyweights

Priority 1 Air Rescue announced a new Board of Directors on Aug. 21 in Mesa, Arizona, adding leaders with backgrounds in military special operations aviation, flight training and helicopter fleet operations. The move comes as the company expands its rear-crew helicopter training business across more than 40 countries.

Why it matters: - Priority 1 Air Rescue is leaning on senior aviation leadership to support growth in rear-crew helicopter training, staffing and equipment. - The board adds experience from military special operations, commercial simulation training and helicopter leasing. - The company has trained more than 15,000 aircrew members across 40+ countries, so governance and industry credibility matter as demand grows.

What happened: - Priority 1 Air Rescue announced the formation of its Board of Directors on Aug. 21, 2026. - The board was established in March 2026. - The company is based in Mesa, Arizona. - The board includes Jon McLaughlin as executive chairman, and Brad Thress, Ed Washecka and Lieutenant General John Evans, U.S. Army (Ret.), as independent directors. - Chris Breaux joined the board as a director.

The details: - McLaughlin is general partner of Emberline and CEO of Airworthy.com. - McLaughlin previously served as senior director of strategy and corporate development at Erickson Incorporated and held a director role at Pan Am World Services (IAP). - Evans commanded the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as the Night Stalkers. - Evans later served as commanding general of U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command and U.S. Army North (Fifth Corps). - Evans served 36 years in the Army and had multiple combat deployments to the Middle East. - Evans also led U.S. Army Cadet Command, overseeing 975 ROTC programs and 1,700 Junior ROTC programs. - Thress was president and CEO of FlightSafety International. - Thress spent 27 years at Textron Aviation and previously served as president of Able Aerospace. - Thress is a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and Cessna demonstration pilot. - Washecka founded Waypoint Leasing and grew it into one of the largest helicopter lessors in the world, with more than 150 aircraft under management. - Washecka also served as CEO of Era Helicopters and as a vice president at SEACOR Holdings. - Breaux is general partner of Emberline and chairman of Interra. - Breaux previously held investment banking roles at Jefferies and served as senior vice president of mergers and acquisitions at Umpqua Bank. - Priority 1 Air Rescue has delivered ab initio training for the U.S. Coast Guard and MH-139 transition training for the U.S. Air Force. - The company also runs programs for law enforcement, search-and-rescue and utility helicopter operators worldwide. - Priority 1 Air Rescue operates training centers in Mesa, Arizona, and Latresne, France. - The company holds training certifications across the FAA, EASA, Transport Canada, CAA UK and IAA. - Its instructor cadre delivers training through classroom instruction, hoist procedural tower work, VR simulation and live flight. - The company describes its instructors as full-time, multi-service and certified to the P1 standard. - The company said the board was built to match the rigor it applies to every crewmember it trains.

Between the lines: - The board mix suggests Priority 1 Air Rescue wants more credibility with military, commercial and fleet-finance customers at the same time. - The appointment of leaders tied to training, operations and leasing signals a push to support scale, not just day-to-day instruction. - The board profile also reinforces that Priority 1 Air Rescue is positioning itself as a global provider rather than a niche training shop.

What's next: - Priority 1 Air Rescue is likely to use the board to support expansion as more operators send aircrews through its program. - The company may also use the new directors to strengthen oversight around growth, training standards and international reach.

The bottom line: - Priority 1 Air Rescue is adding a board packed with aviation veterans to back a training business that already spans more than 40 countries and multiple regulatory systems.