Aerospace
How can we help you today? |
Consulting Services Team
Joel Smith, MBA
|
Joel Smith is the President of U.S. Aerospace Defense Group, a certified Veteran owned company providing consultation services and insurance solutions to the aerospace and defense industry, government contractors, and government agencies. He is a widely-respected business professional and executive with a successful record of leading companies in the aerospace and defense industry. Joel has been a vital leader in the space, aerospace, and DoD industry supporting programs to include: COSMIC-2, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Lockheed Martin Space Systems - Satellite redesign, NASA Space Station programs, and DoD CARB programs.
Both a visionary leader and hands-on manager, he chaired numerous Proposal Committees and Engineering Change Boards for aerospace and defense programs. Earlier, Joel Smith spent 23 years in program management, procurement, contract management, negotiations, and auditing in the aerospace industry. He managed over $150 million in annual sales and was a liaison to the Department of Defense and key manufacturers within the aerospace and defense industry. Joel holds a Master of Business Administration from Belhaven University and a Bachelor of Commercial Aviation from Delta State University. As a Lean Six Sigma Expert and a C.A.S.E auditor, he has served as an advisor to government and private contractors and manufacturers. Joel is also a commercial multi-engine pilot. He is a 23-year Veteran of the U.S. Military serving in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. For many years, Joel and his wife have been active leaders for local and national charitable organizations. |
Mr. Clark
|
Mr. Clark has 20 years of insurance industry experience. Most Recently he served as the Head of the Aviation Business Unit at QBE, reporting directly in to the North American Board. He and the team founded the Aviation Division there as a de novo greenfield endeavor in 2011 and quickly moved the business unit into a market leading position in both general aviation and aviation workers’ compensation, becoming the 3rd largest underwriter of workers’ compensation in the aviation sector by the end of 2014 and one of the largest players in the North American corporate and commercial aircraft and airport insurance space. While at QBE, he worked with various partners to found the IFBOA workers’ compensation safety group dividend program which became the largest and most successful program of its type in the aviation sector.
Prior to QBE, he served for 10 years as a Senior Vice President for Old Republic Aerospace, where he led the Special Risk Division, overseeing all underwriting activity for public entity aircraft, airports and aviation workers’ compensation. At Old Republic he led the underwriting team that was responsible for the creation of the NBAA workers’ compensation safety group dividend program which quickly grew into one of the largest and most prestigious programs of its kind in the industry (the National Business Aviation Association, NBAA is the largest civil aviation interest group in the world, responsible for the 4th largest industry trade show of any nature in the United States). Mr. Clark has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and is a 2008 graduate of the Thunderbird School’s top ranked European Based Executive MBA Program. He is a former U.S. Marine, an avid runner and an aviation enthusiast. He lives in Atlanta Georgia with his three daughters and his wife of 17 years. |
Philip A. Wagner
|
Philip A. Wagner, Chief Marketing Officer - Mr. Wagner brings with him over 20 years of commercial aviation insurance underwriting and program administration experience with some of the most respected names in the aviation insurance marketplace, including AIG and Old Republic Aerospace.
While working on his Risk Management degree at the University of Georgia he got to know the aviation business from the ground up while working as a line technician at Briscoe Field (KLZU) in Lawrenceville, GA. He is a 1996 graduate of the University of Georgia’s Risk Management and Insurance program. He currently resides in Birmingham, AL where he oversees Plimsoll’s carrier relations and placement strategy. |