Our Story

Metro Aviation was incorporated in 1982 as a helicopter charter, flight training and maintenance operation. Our entry into the air medical service business came in November 1983 with two used Hughes 500-D model helicopters, when Metro Aviation entered into a long-term agreement to provide helicopter ambulance service for Schumpert Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Metro Aviation now has air medical transport operations throughout the United States. Hospitals sign long-term contracts with us because of the advantages of: 1) our commitment to safety, quality and customer service; 2) caps on price escalation; 3) our strong equity position; and 4) our commitment to minimizing aircraft downtime.

Our presence is evident for many air medical, law enforcement and other components and installations. We have developed and received FAA Supplemental Type Certificates (STC’s) for many air medical components and installations including fixed and rotor-wing. Quite often, Metro Aviation not only performs the installation, but purchases the aircraft and trains the ground and flight personnel.

Our foundation of safety, quality and customer service has remained with us for 40 years and is still the cornerstone of our company.

Tradition

Metro Aviation celebrated 35 years in 2017 while reflecting on our traditional roots and our evolution into a global completion leader, reputable operator, state-of-the-art training center and trusted partner for companies across the world.

These are our stories.  These are the experiences that made us who we are today.

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Metro Team

Metro Aviation is constantly growing our capabilities and expanding our reach. Metro holds more than 30 Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) and completes about 35 aircraft each year for U.S. customers and global clients.

MIKE STANBERRY

MIKE STANBERRY

President and CEO

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KENNY MORROW

KENNY MORROW

Chief Operating Officer

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TODD STANBERRY

TODD STANBERRY

Vice President

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AMY MCMULLEN

AMY MCMULLEN

Director of Aircraft Configuration

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BECKY ROSS

BECKY ROSS

Director of Transport Business Service

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BRADY CARPENTER

BRADY CARPENTER

Director of Safety

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BRITNEY RATCLIFF

BRITNEY RATCLIFF

Director of Human Resources

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HOLLY WEBER

HOLLY WEBER

Director of Customer Revenue Cycle Support

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JACK SPRAGUE

JACK SPRAGUE

Part 135 Assistant Director of Maintenance

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JESS HOPSON

JESS HOPSON

Transport Business Analyst

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JOHN MCCLURE

JOHN MCCLURE

Chief Pilot Manager

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JOHN VANCE

JOHN VANCE

Director of Operations

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KRISTEN K HOLMES

KRISTEN K HOLMES

Director of Marketing

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MARK BRETON

MARK BRETON

Part 135 Director of Maintenance

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Sam Cain

Sam Cain

FW Chief Pilot

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SHAWN BRUTON

SHAWN BRUTON

Part 145 Director of Maintenance

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Stephanie Fryar

Stephanie Fryar

Director of Payroll and Benefits

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STEWART CORBIN

STEWART CORBIN

Director of Customer Communications Center Training

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TARA BEEBOUT

TARA BEEBOUT

Director of Transport Business Services

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WARREN CARROLL

WARREN CARROLL

Director of Safety Innovation

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WELLS CORNETTE

WELLS CORNETTE

Rotor Wing Chief Pilot

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METRO FAMILY

Metro Aviation is constantly growing our capabilities and expanding our reach. We are proud to partner with these outstanding hospital partners and provide air medical transport to communities across the country.  

Meet the Family

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Metro Aviation is constantly growing our capabilities and expanding our reach. Metro holds more than 30 Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) and completes about 35 aircraft each year for U.S. customers and global clients.

MIKE STANBERRY

Mike Stanberry, President and CEO of Metro Aviation, Inc., began the company in 1982. Mike's undying persistence with regard to safety is personified in his mantra: "For safety to exist, it must be a way of life." His dedication to safety was recognized by industry leaders as the 2009 recipient of the Jim Charlson Award, honoring Mike's commitment to safety, not only within Metro Aviation, but throughout the aviation industry. As Past Chairman of the Board and founding member of the Air Medical Operators Association (AMOA), he works with a diverse group of aviation operators to set the industry standard for safe air medical transportation. Mike also sits on the board for MedEvac Foundation International. Mike is a graduate of Louisiana State University and has held a private pilot’s license since 1973.

mstanberry@metroaviation.com

KENNY MORROW

Kenny Morrow began employment with Metro Aviation in 1995 and holds the title of Chief Operations Officer. Kenny’s primary duties include managing the day to day functions of the various accounting departments as well as working closely with Mike, Milton and Todd to ensure that all functions of the company are working in sequence. Kenny holds a degree in Business and Accounting as well as a Masters of Business Administration, both from Centenary College of Louisiana.

kmorrow@metroaviation.com

TODD STANBERRY

Todd Stanberry is Vice President of Metro Aviation, Inc. Though having grown up around helicopters and airplanes, Todd joined the company in 2008 after 13 years in commercial real estate.  Todd loves coming to work and gets to wear a lot of hats, including riveting things like contract negotiation and administration, and responding to potential customers’ requests for proposals.  But, his big focus is ensuring the Metro family – both immediate and extended – all have the tools they need to be the absolute best at what they do.  Todd earned his bachelor’s from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. He is a former board member of the Association of Air Medical Services, the MedEvac Foundation International, Past President of the Board of Trustees for Southfield School, Past President of the Downtown Shreveport Lions Club, and an active member of Noel Memorial United Methodist Church. Todd and his beautiful (and extremely tolerant) wife Michaela have been married for 22 years.  They have two teenaged children, Mathis (16) and Quinn (13), so they appreciate your prayers.

tstanberry@metroaviation.com

AMY MCMULLEN

Amy McMullen joined the Metro Family in August of 2012. She has worked hand in hand with Metro in different arenas for many years prior to her employment at Metro. Amy started her career in the aeromedical industry as a dispatcher at Willis Knighton’s Air Rescue helicopter in Shreveport, LA. In November 1993, the Willis Knighton and Schumpert Programs became a consortium, operated by Metro Aviation. From there she moved to Aeromedical Collection Services, an air ambulance reimbursement company, where she interacted with many of the same clients at Metro Aviation. Just prior to her move to Metro Aviation, she was VP of Revenue for Allegiance Health Management. Amy’s primary duties are to oversee the aircraft completions and assist with needs of our customers. Amy is a graduate of Louisiana Tech, a Nationally Registered Paramedic and a Notary Public.

amcmullen@metroaviation.com

BECKY ROSS

Becky Ross joined the Metro family in December 2015. Becky is a Registered Nurse with more than 30 years of healthcare, hospital and nursing administration experience. Prior to joining Metro Aviation, Becky served in executive roles as a Chief Nursing Officer, Assistant Vice President of Quality, as well as Assistant Vice President of Emergency Services. She first worked with Metro in the fall of 2015 as a consultant for an operational customer experiencing major changes. Serving as the interim program director, she brought about the changes necessary to help the program regain solid financial and operational footing. Becky earned her MBA with a concentration in Health Care Administration in 2003 and holds the certifications of CPHQ and CMTE. Becky resides in North Carolina and was a North Carolina Great 100 Nurses Recipient in 2014.

bross@metroaviation.com

BRADY CARPENTER

Brady Carpenter began his employment with Metro Aviation in 2016 as an Operational Control Specialist. Brady joined the Safety Department in 2017 as the Flight Operations Quality Assurance Analyst before becoming Assistant Director of Safety in 2018 and Director of Safety in 2024. Brady received flight training and earned a bachelor’s degree in aviation management from Louisiana Tech University, which prepared him for his primary role of managing Metro’s Safety Management System. Brady leads a team of highly experienced aviation professionals dedicated to ensuring Metro continues its industry-leading position in operational safety.

bcarpenter@metroaviation.com

BRITNEY RATCLIFF

Britney Ratcliff serves as the Director of Human Resources at Metro Aviation. She was promoted after serving as the Human Resource Specialist for her first year of employment with Metro. She has years of recruiting, safety, and human resources experience, a Bachelor’s in Business Management and Administration, and a Master of Business Administration with a Human Resources Specialization from Louisiana State University at Shreveport. Over the years, Britney has actively served as a volunteer for multiple local organizations, including the 2021 President of the NWLA SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) chapter. She enjoys working in aviation, connecting with other professionals, providing resume and career search assistance, and offering support and guidance to transitioning service members.

bratcliff@metroaviation.com

HOLLY WEBER

Holly Weber joined the Metro Aviation team in 2017 and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our customer support team.  She spent the first ten years of her career in wilderness and emergency medicine at SOLO in the mountains of New Hampshire; then, in 2001, she transitioned to the HEMS industry in California, where her experiences were both from the program management side of an air medical service and then more recently from the revenue cycle management side of a well-known EMS billing company.  Holly is well-versed in billing solutions, revenue cycle management, ambulance compliance, and workflow efficiency. Holly’s background includes Vice President of Business Development and Transformation for Syncordia Technologies and Healthcare Solutions/Health Services Integration, where she led the client relations, business development, and marketing teams. She has experience with flight communications, dispatching, revenue cycle management, process improvement, and the inner workings of CAD and billing software products. Holly earned her undergraduate degree from Boston College and a Master of Business Administration from Plymouth State College. She also holds an Executive Leadership Certificate and Executive Management Certificate from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, is a Certified Medical Transport Executive (CMTE) through the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), as well as a Certified Ambulance Coder (CAC), Certified Ambulance Privacy Officer (CAPO) and Certified Ambulance Compliance Officer (CACO) through the National Association of Ambulance Coders (NAAC). In her spare time, Holly is an adventurous world traveler and avid triathlete.

hweber@metroaviation.com

JACK SPRAGUE

With over 25 years of helicopter maintenance experience, Jack started his aviation journey as a soldier in the United States Army performing the duties of an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior mechanic. During his 10 plus years of active duty service, he held multiple leadership positions. His HAA career started upon his exit from military service where he worked for a 5-ship Part 135 HAA program in Southwestern Pennsylvania. During his 9 years of service with Metro Aviation he has performed in the roles of Lead Mechanic, Regional Maintenance Manager, Airworthiness Manager and now serves as the Assistant Director of Maintenance.

jsprague@metroaviation.com

JESS HOPSON

Jess Hopson joined Metro Aviation in January 2025, bringing over 15 years of flight nursing and leadership experience. A U.S. Navy veteran, he has worked in both Part 135 and vendor-based models across ground, rotor, and fixed-wing transport.

Jess previously served as a regional operations director, overseeing multiple air ambulance bases. His expertise includes operations, budgeting, vendor relations, and data-driven strategy.

He holds a BSN from the University of Washington and an MSN in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga. A Pacific Northwest native, Jess is a husband, dad to two teenage daughters, and a lifelong learner.

jhopson@metroaviation.com

JOHN MCCLURE

John McClure flew for the U.S. Army and timber industry before joining Metro in 2002 as a line pilot for Acadian Ambulance. Since then, he has served as Base Lead Pilot, Simulator and Ground Instructor, and Assistant Chief Pilot. As the Director of Training, John works closely with Metro's operations department to ensure our customers are equipped with qualified, skilled pilots capable of safely executing each flight.

jmcclure@metroaviation.com

JOHN VANCE

John Vance works closely with the Safety and Training departments to oversee the daily operations for Metro’s air medical customers.

John has been with Metro since 2006, serving as a Line Pilot, Check Airman, Aviation Site Manager, and Regional Aviation Manager.  He has a deep understanding of the Metro culture and operations and an unwavering commitment to safety.

jvance@metroaviation.com

KRISTEN KING

A veteran, a volunteer, a triathlete. Just a few words that describe Kristen King Holmes. During her 9 years of service in the Army Reserve, Kristen went across deployed to Iraq twice. She’s stared down Saddam Hussein, entertained troops on her radio show in the Middle East, told her story on national televison, hosted a reality show, earned an Emmy and appeared as the answer to a Jeopardy question. Kristen joined the Metro Family in 2013 and enjoys interacting with customers and telling the Metro story. She oversees all of Metro’s communications, as well as marketing efforts for PAC International, the Helicopter Flight Training Center and Outerlink Global Solutions.

kking@metroaviation.com

MARK BRETON

Mark began his aviation career in 1988 performing air medical, law enforcement and VIP completions on various model helicopters. In 1991 he entered the air medical industry as an EMS field mechanic for 12 years, eventually becoming the Director of Maintenance for that operator in Dallas. Subsequently he served as a Director of Maintenance for 2 other large air medical operators and has now served as Metro’s Director of Maintenance since 2014. Mark maintains an Airframe & Powerplant certificate and an Inspection Authorization.

markbreton@metroaviation.com

SAM CAIN

Sam Cain serves as the Fixed Wing Chief Pilot and Region 5 Aviation Manager at Metro Aviation. Since joining the company in 2020, he began flying for the Medforce Iowa Program before advancing into leadership roles, including Aviation Site Manager for Medforce, Superior Ambulance, University of Wisconsin, and Gundersen programs. His dedication and expertise led him to the Regional Aviation Manager position, where he played a key role in operational oversight.

With 25 years of experience in EMS aviation—spanning both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft—Sam brings extensive knowledge in aviation management. As Fixed Wing Chief Pilot, he ensures that all Metro fixed-wing pilots receive proper training and maintain their required qualifications, reinforcing Metro’s commitment to safety and excellence in the air.

scain@metroaviation.com

SHAWN BRUTON

Shawn began his career at Metro as a paint helper in 1994. From there, he began gaining experience in various aspects of the completion business, including the production shop, engine shop and as a sheet metal mechanic. After earning his A&P License, he ran the East Wall at Metro, overseeing aircraft due for inspections and repairs. Shawn’s attention to detail and his ability to lead a team landed him his current role as the Part 145 Director of Maintenance.

sbruton@metroaviation.com

STEPHANIE FRYAR

Stephanie Fryar was born and raised in Northwest Louisiana.  She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from LSU Shreveport. Stephanie joined the Metro family in 1994 as the Accounts Payable Clerk, when the company had only 125 employees.  Thirty years later, she serves as the Director of Payroll and Benefits.  Under the watchful eyes of Jerry Segura (Metro CFO), and Milton Geltz (Managing Director), she has earned her “stripes”
and gained her vast knowledge of payroll and benefits.

sfryar@metroaviation.com

STEWART CORBIN

Stewart Corbin joined the company in 2019 after working for over 22 years in communication center management as an air and ground operator, providing dispatching services for 4 Metro Aviation customers. Stewart has worked in the air medical and critical care transport industry since 1995. During this time the dispatching services varied with program models and varied modes of transport. Stewart attended Mt Vernon Nazarene University and is a graduate of the Medical Transport Leadership Institute being certified as a Critical Care Transport Executive. Since 2017, Stewart has served as a board member for the International Air Medical Transport Communication Specialist association.

scorbin@metroaviation.com

TARA BEEBOUT

Tara Beebout brings over 30 years of experience in critical care, clinical leadership, and air medical operations. She began her career as an ICU and travel nurse before moving into education and leadership roles, including Vice President of Clinical Operations and Critical Care Services.

At Metro Aviation, Tara partners with customers to enhance the performance, compliance, and sustainability of their air medical programs. She leads initiatives focused on operational efficiency, leadership support, and onboarding new programs.

Outside of work, Tara enjoys reading, beach travel with her husband, and time with their two grown children.

tbeebout@metroaviation.com

WARREN CARROLL

Warren loves flying and working with inspiring people in the air medical world. An aero engineer from the Air Force Academy, he has spent 20+ years flying B-52s and values faith, integrity, and service. He brings a spirit of creativity to safety. Warren is often reading interesting leadership books, so make sure to ask him what he is currently reading!

wcarroll@metroaviation.com

WELLS CORNETTE

Wells Cornette is the Rotor Wing Chief Pilot of Metro Aviation.  Wells joined the Metro team in 2017 and began flying for the Acadian Program.  He later became a Check Airman for the training department and then worked his way into the Asst. Chief Pilot role.  His focus is ensuring all Metro pilots are properly trained and current with all the respective pilot qualifications.  Wells has an extensive background in training and a strong commitment to safety.

ecornette@metroaviation.com