Volato has appointed Joan Sullivan Garrett to its board of directors. Garrett is an aviation industry innovator who for nearly 40 years has been setting the industry’s standards for care and improvement of overall safety of crew and passengers, both of which are foundational to Volato’s company mission. 

Garrett is founder and chairman of aviation safety and security solutions provider MedAire which she started in 1985. The company supports more than 180 airlines, 4,500 private aircraft and more than 75 per cent of Fortune 100 company flight departments.

In 1987, Garrett created MedAire’s signature service, MedLink. Dubbed the ‘911 of the sky’, MedLink supports flight crew 24/7 with direct, real-time access to ground-based medical resources, including MedLink’s emergency room physicians.

In addition to authoring numerous white papers relating to medical and health subjects, the world-renowned expert in aviation medical health and safety has consulted with government agencies and airlines, including the FAA.

“Dedicating a board seat to overall safety and preparedness is quite a statement for an early-stage company in our industry,” says Garrett. “Volato recognises that all the industry’s long-time leaders operate with very high inflight safety standards. I am excited for the opportunity to help guide leadership on operating at that same level from the very start.

Garrett has received numerous prestigious awards and inductions, with highlights including:

1997: Flight Safety Foundation’s Business Aviation Meritorious Service award

2001: Named Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year

2002 to 2011: Member and Vice Chair of Flight Safety Foundation’s board of governors

2007: Spirit of Enterprise award from Arizona State University

2017: NBAA’s prestigious Meritorious award and the International Aviation Women’s Association Woman of Excellence award

2019: Inducted into the International Air and Space Hall of Fame

2020: Collier award selection committee

2021: Inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, placing her alongside the Wright brothers, William Boeing, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong.

2022: Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy Selection Committee

“We are honoured to have Joan Sullivan Garrett join our board” says co-founder and CEO Matt Liotta. “Joan’s entrepreneurial and operational experience, paired with her focus on safety and best practices, make her an incredible addition to our board as we scale up to offer the best private aviation experience for our owners and passengers. We look forward to her leadership and guidance through Volato’s next stage of growth.”