Expert

John Cauthen

Security Director, Aviation & Maritime
MedAire

John Cauthen joined MedAire in 2018 as the Security Director, Aviation and Maritime. Cauthen holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the United States Naval Academy and a command and staff diploma from the U.S. Naval War College. Additionally, he has advanced degrees in history and business administration from American University and Arizona State University.

Cauthen has more than 20 years of industry experience in security, risk management, aviation, military, and local police. In addition, Cauthen taught history for the U.S. Naval Academy. He has both Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) remote pilot certificate and commercial helicopter and airplane pilot licenses.

In this capacity, he leads a 24/7 security operation split between the United States and the United Arab Emirates centers. His team delivers critical threat intelligence and assistance to aviation industry stakeholders on a global basis.

Since 2019, Cauthen has been a member of the National Business Aviation Association's Security Council, providing security guidance and risk management best practices to the organization's member base through briefings and various organizational engagements. He also represents MedAire as a member of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration's Aviation Domain Intelligence Integration Cell. Cauthen is also a City of Mesa Police Department Airborne Law Enforcement Association member.

Previously, he managed law enforcement flight operations in Arizona for a major metropolitan police department. Cauthen also spent 11 years in the U.S. Navy, including time with NATO in Afghanistan, working with the Afghan Interior Ministry and Afghan National Police, and as a defense and civil exercise program manager for U.S. Coast Guard. He retired from the U.S. Navy Reserve in 2022.