Remembering Our Friend and Colleague, Joseph “Joe E.” Esmerado

Dear Friends and Colleagues, It is with great sadness that we share the news that our longtime colleague and friend, Joseph Esmerado — known to so many simply as "Joe E." — has passed away at the age of 82. Joe E. was an important part of Leading Edge's story. Over his many years with us, he became a trusted advisor to clients and a steady, respected presence within our organization. With his unmatched technical knowledge, calm leadership, and unique sense of humor, he built lasting relationships across every corner of the aviation industry. Joe dedicated his life to developing and nurturing aircraft maintenance personnel. His vision and leadership shaped management programs that supported organizational growth, profitability, and strong teams. At Leading Edge, we relied on him to carefully oversee client pre-purchase inspections, manage maintenance and completion monitoring, and perform on-site aircraft evaluations, always with the client's best interests at heart. A highlight of his distinguished aviation career was receiving the renowned Charles M. Taylor Master Mechanic Award, an honor recognizing more than 50 years of dedicated service in aviation maintenance. This achievement reflects the extraordinary depth of knowledge, skill, and professionalism that defined Joe's work. Joe began his aviation career as an aircraft maintenance trainee in the U.S. Navy aboard the Intrepid during the Vietnam era. He went on to build an exceptional résumé: vice president and general manager at Butler Aviation; owner and president of JetAm; vice president of aircraft maintenance for Jet Aviation; and general manager of Raytheon's Atlantic City FBO, where he led a team of more than forty. He was a proud Rutgers University graduate and held an airframe and powerplant mechanic license. But beyond titles and accomplishments, Joe E. will be remembered most for the relationships he forged. His humor, warmth, and sincerity made him beloved at inspection facilities, OEMs, program providers, and across our entire industry. He was a mentor, a friend, and a true gentleman. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and all who were fortunate enough to know him. Please keep Joe E. and his loved ones in your thoughts.