Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certifications And Ratings
References
Flight Experience
Awards
Timeline
Generic

James Pugliesi

Knoxville

Summary

A seasoned aviation professional with extensive experience as a Lead Pilot at Metrea Special Aerospace, specializing in King Air 300 operations. Demonstrated expertise in enhancing operational readiness and safety compliance through effective training and standardization initiatives. Achievements include significant improvements in team performance and mission success, underscoring a commitment to excellence in aviation. Career aspirations focus on further optimizing flight operations and leading high-performing teams.

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience

Work History

Lead Pilot / Pilot Standardization Evaluator / First Officer / Sensor Operator Standardization Evaluator

Metrea Special Aerospace
10.2016 - Current
  • Performed annual evaluations and supervised training for pilots resulting in an increase in proficiency.
  • Promoted from Sensor Operator Standardization Evaluator (2016), First Officer (2022), Pilot Standardization Evaluator (2023), Lead Pilot (2024).
  • Optimized standardization efforts across multiple sites, resulting in a 20% increase in operational preparedness and compliance with FAA and DOD aviation regulations.
  • Piloted King Air under high-tempo, austere conditions, achieving a 98% on-time flight completion rate and enhancing client satisfaction
  • Supported global ISR missions for the Department of Defense, enhancing decision-making and improving mission success rates
  • Established training progression for flight and sensor teams enhancing productivity.

Fleet NATOPS Evaluator / Naval Aircrewman (EP-3E)

United States Navy, VQ-1
07.2010 - 10.2016
  • Trained and evaluated EP-3 community members, conducting check rides that improved compliance and readiness.
  • Executed ISR missions in support of SOF during overseas deployments (AFRICOM, CENTCOM, SOUTHCOM, PACOM), significantly boosting mission success and operational efficiency
  • Led CRM training and evaluated NATOPS instructors across squadrons, resulting in enhanced crew resource management skills and improved instructional quality across teams
  • Provided real-time intelligence that improved aircrew coordination to ground forces commanders and increased flight safety during missions.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration Technical Skills

Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT
08.2025

Skills

  • Experienced King Air 300 pilot
  • Various light general aviation aircraft
  • Garmin G1000
  • ForeFlight
  • Jeppesen
  • Microsoft Office
  • Google Workspace
  • Military flight planning tools
  • Certified Crew Resource Management (CRM) Facilitator
  • Mission systems software

Certifications And Ratings

  • FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate - Airplane Multi-Engine Land (AMEL), Instrument Rated
  • Airplane Single-Engine Land (ASEL)
  • King Air 350 PIC Type Rating
  • FAA First Class Medical: current
  • FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit
  • U.S. Passport: valid
  • Active TS/SCI Security Clearance

References

References available upon request.

Flight Experience

  • Total Time: 1,545 hours
  • Fixed Wing PIC: 1,050 hours
  • Multi Engine TT: 1,057 hours
  • Multi Engine Turbine PIC: 680 hours
  • Total Turbine: 1,044 hours
  • Transatlantic Ferry Africa to Tampa, 03/01/25
  • Global ISR, long-duration, multi-crew missions

Awards

  • Air Medal x2 (2014)
  • Navy Achievement Medal x2 (2015, 2016)

Timeline

Lead Pilot / Pilot Standardization Evaluator / First Officer / Sensor Operator Standardization Evaluator

Metrea Special Aerospace
10.2016 - Current

Fleet NATOPS Evaluator / Naval Aircrewman (EP-3E)

United States Navy, VQ-1
07.2010 - 10.2016

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration Technical Skills

Western Governors University

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James Pugliesi