Life Flight Network has selected aviation safety and operations leader Ben Clayton to serve as its chief executive officer. Life Flight Network is the largest not-for-profit air medical transport service in the United States, providing ICU-level care to communities in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. Clayton was selected from a large field of candidates following a robust national search and interview process led by Life Flight Network's board of directors.

Since joining Life Flight Network in 2015, Clayton has served the organisation in a variety of operational and safety leadership roles. In his most recent positions as the chief operating officer and interim chief executive officer, Clayton led the organisation through the extraordinary challenges and uncertainty presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. Clayton guided the restructuring of several departments, while at the same time creating sustainable operational efficiencies. Additionally, he oversaw the opening of new Life Flight Network bases in Salem, Oregon and in Lewiston and Coeur d'Alene in Idaho.

"We are fortunate to have Ben's expertise and experience on our team as we work to increase our capacity to meet the region's growing need for critical medical transport," says chief executive of outreach and strategic affiliation for Providence Health and Services and Life Flight Network board chair Dr Tom Lorish. "Ben is a proven leader and has helped Life Flight Network provide life-saving air medical resources to our communities during challenging times, while also ensuring we consistently meet the highest standards of safety and quality."

Previously, Clayton served as a helicopter pilot and aviation safety officer in the US Marine Corps. During this time, he participated in multiple land and ship-based deployments including to Iraq and several countries in the western Pacific and southeast Asia. He trained extensively in complex operations and in aviation safety.

Clayton came to Life Flight Network as a helicopter pilot, transporting ill and injured patients, and quickly moved into an aviation training role. With his extensive expertise in safety, Clayton was promoted to director of safety and risk management before becoming the organisation's chief safety officer. His success in that role led to him being named chief operating officer in June 2020.

"I have dedicated my career to ensuring the safety and health of the organisations I've worked for and the people they serve," says Clayton. "It's been an honour to serve the communities in this region for the past seven years, and I look forward to continuing to expand their access to quality healthcare in my new role."

Clayton graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor's degree in general science. He serves on the boards of directors for both the Association of Air Medical Services and the Air Medical Operators Association.