Executive Team

Thomas Leverton was named chief executive officer at Omniflight on June 1, 2010. In this role, he oversees all business operations of this leading air medical services provider.

Leverton joined Omniflight from TXU Energy, the largest electric market retailer in Texas, where he served as chief operating officer. Leverton had responsibility for operations, marketing, sales and technology. Previously, Leverton also served in several roles at FedEx, where he was chief development officer and handled a variety of functions over a six-year period, including nationwide marketing, pricing and new store expansion. He gained additional experience in corporate strategy while at consulting firm Bain & Company, where he worked within the airline industry. Leverton began his career in research, regulatory and product development for neurovascular catheters with Johnson & Johnson.

Leverton holds a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering/materials science from Duke University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.

Bill Doherty was named chief operating officer at Omniflight on August 13, 2010. In this leadership role, he oversees all operations of this leading air medical services provider.

Doherty joined Omniflight after serving as chief executive officer of Warehouse86 Ventures, LLC, a Memphis, TN-based reverse logistics start-up, where he oversaw all business operations. Prior to this, Doherty enjoyed a decorated 25-year career at FedEx Corp., where he ultimately served as Vice President, Global Operations for FedEx Office. While in this role, Doherty oversaw $960Million worth of annual gross sales generated by 992 store locations located throughout North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Prior to moving to FedEx Office after the Kinko's acquisition, Doherty served as Managing Director of FedEx Express' Newark Super Hub (EWRH), where he had full operational control of FedEx Express' second-largest air operations facility. During his time at EWRH, Doherty served as a representative to the Federal Aviation Administration, the New York/New Jersey Port Authority, and chaired the EWR Tenant Council for Flight Line Safety Procedure Review. Doherty is a four-time recipient of the FedEx "Five-Star Award," the company's highest distinction presented annually to FedEx's top performers.

Doherty holds a Bachelor's degree in business administration from Becker College in Worcester, MA, and has received an Executive Certificate in Supply Chain Management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan Business School in Cambridge, MA.

James R. Kupferschmid serves as Chief Financial Officer of the company, reporting directly to Omniflight’s President and Chief Operating Officer.  In this capacity, he is responsible for shaping the organization’s capital structure and influencing positive growth in shareholder value.  The scope of Kupferschmid’s responsibilities incorporates the strategic planning, development and leadership of the corporate finance, accounting and billing areas.

Kupferschmid brings to Omniflight a solid 30-year finance career and extensive background in financial management, with a particular emphasis on aviation, having worked for Continental, Micronesia, Northwest Airlines and Kitty Hawk, Inc.  In addition, he possesses a healthcare background through a work history with M. D. Network, LLP.  

Kupferschmid is a Certified Public Accountant in Texas and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Indiana University and a Masters degree in Economics from the University of Texas.

James F. Nieves is Vice President of Human Resources and has been employed with the company in this role since January 2007. His human resources career extends over a 25- year period.

In this position, he oversees all human resources-related functions including employment, recruitment, benefits, payroll and human resource information systems.

Previously, he was Vice President, Human Resources at Metromedia Restaurant Group in Plano, Texas, a $750 million privately held firm and leading multi-concept table-service restaurant groups. Prior, he served as Vice President of Human Resources for Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, a nationally recognized private, not-for-profit 400-bed pediatric academic medical center serving the needs of over 325,000 children annually, with more than $900 million in annual revenue.

Nieves also served as Vice President of Human Resources at PacifiCare Health Systems, in Dallas, a leading managed care provider and at Brink’s Home Security in Irving, Texas, a residential security systems company. 

Joel Hochhalter has been working within the air medical services sector for more than a decade.  Hochhalter began working with Omniflight in 2007, when the company acquired Southwest Med Evac of Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he served as President.  Prior, he was a Program Director at PHI Air Medical in Albuquerque, New Mexico and in Indianapolis. 

In addition, he served as Director of Lifeguard Air Emergency Services for University of New Mexico Hospitals, also in Albuquerque.  Hochhalter held several similar roles at various emergency medical service-related companies in Boise, Idaho including Director of Air Medical Operations for Northwest Paramedic Associates; and Co-owner/Vice President and Director of Medical Services Operations at Access Air Ambulance.

O. Ray Wall serves as Vice President of Flight Operations, Safety and Compliance for Omniflight Helicopters, Inc. In his role with Omniflight, he oversees all matters of flight operations, safety and compliance as it relates to each segment of our business. He also is responsible for ensuring Omniflight continues to operate at the highest levels of corporate integrity and operational compliance. His safety and compliance experience spans more nearly forty years.

Prior to joining Omniflight, Wall was Director of Quality and Safety Western Hemisphere for Air Logistics, Inc., a Bristow corporation. He also served on the Quality and Safety globalization team as Director – Western Hemisphere. Their goal was to standardize all quality and safety functions worldwide. He is a retired federal investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board and former military officer.

Wall earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Sciences from Capitol University and also attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He holds a Federal Aviation Administration pilot’s license and is rated in both fixed-wing (single- and multi-engine) and rotorcraft (single- and multi-engine helicopters). Wall also holds instrument ratings in both classes.

Rick Rambo joined Omniflight in 2008 as Vice President of Clinical Services.  His primary function is to direct and oversee all clinical and quality improvement activities pertinent to air medical operations for the company.  He also ensures optimal and safe care of patients in accordance with established policies and procedures. 

Rambo has served as a registered nurse for more than 20 years; twelve of those serving as a flight nurse in both military and civilian capacities.  Prior to joining Omniflight, Rambo was the Campus Chief Nursing Officer/Director of Nursing at St. Luke’s Hospital in Tempe, Arizona.

He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.  He also holds an Associate of Science degree in Nursing, from Marymount University in Arlington, Va.

Cheryl A. Nolan is vice president and chief information officer for Omniflight Helicopters.

Nolan oversees the company’s information technology (IT) efforts, including the development and implementation of strategies that aid in the upgrade of its current information systems infrastructure.

Nolan’s IT career spans 15 years.  Most recently, she served as senior principal for India-based Infosys Consulting, Inc., a management consulting division of a company engaged in delivering technology-enabled business solutions to organizations interested in leveraging and maximizing their IT resources. 

Nolan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Business Computer Systems from New Mexico State University.

August 18, 2010
Omniflight Helicopters' Base Clinical Specialist Don Wilson Named 2010 Paramedic Of The Year By East Alabama EMS

July 1, 2010
Native Air And Havasu Regional Medical Center Partner In Flight For A Cause Program To Benefit River Cities United Way

May 27, 2010
Omniflight Helicopters Appoints Thomas Leverton Chief Executive Officer

View all press releases here

August 7, 2009
Payson Roundup, Night Vision Goggles Help Pilots See

May 19, 2009
Mesa Independent Community News, Flight for the Cure

May 13, 2009
Mesa Republic, Native Air makes gift to fight cancer

View all press coverage here

We provide industry professionals competitive wages, and, due to our scope and size, offer significant opportunity for growth, development and advancement.

In addition, Omniflight employees find it extremely rewarding to be part of a business that touches and helps save lives each and every day.

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