CAMDEN — The LifeFlight Foundation has selected Maine native Kate O’Halloran to serve as its new executive director. Thomas Judge, founder of LifeFlight of Maine and the LifeFlight Foundation, has served as the Foundation’s executive director since 2003 and will work closely with O’Halloran in his ongoing role as executive director of LifeFlight of Maine. 

“After a national search which resulted in a number of highly qualified candidates, Kate stood out as the person with not only a wealth of knowledge and expertise but also a strong passion and understanding of LifeFlight’s mission and importance to the state of Maine,” said Dan Daigneault, Chair of the LifeFlight Foundation Board of Trustees, in a news release.

O’Halloran grew up in Waterville and attended Brown University, after which she has had a successful career in both academia and development. After a prolonged stint in Boston, where she earned an MBA at Babson College and served as the associate director for the Arthur Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, O’Halloran returned to Maine to be closer to family.

She served as the associate director of the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement, and also helped lead the Oak Institute for the Study of International Human Rights at Colby College. 

O’Halloran transitioned her roles at Colby to an immersion in nonprofit leadership and development. Over the years she has helped lead significant campaigns at Colby College, MaineGeneral Health, and Carrabassett Valley Academy. O’Halloran has spent the last three years as a strategy and development consultant for numerous Maine nonprofits where she gained experience in a variety of sectors and regions. She has also served on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations including Maine Audubon, Maine Huts and Trails, and the Maine Women’s Fund.

“We launched the LifeFlight Foundation as a separate 501(c)3 organization in 2003 to provide funding for the LifeFlight of Maine mission,” said Judge. “We’ve been fortunate to have engaged a wonderful board of trustees and committed donors over the past 17 years, enabling us to support this important mission. Having Kate join our team at the Foundation deepens our commitment to Maine.”

The Foundation raises money to help LifeFlight purchase aircraft and medical technology and provide clinical education and training. Most recently the Foundation secured funding to open a new base of operations in Sanford and expand the aircraft fleet by adding a third helicopter and a fixed wing plane. As the demand for LifeFlight of Maine’s services has grown over the last few years — exacerbated by today’s coronavirus crisis —the need for the financial support provided by the Foundation also grows, according to the Foundation. 

O’Halloran will lead the team at the LifeFlight Foundation to expand the donor base and launch a significant capital campaign to assure LifeFlight of Maine is poised to meet new and growing demands of the increasingly complex emergency medical needs of the nation’s oldest and most rural state.

“I am honored by the opportunity to work with such a fantastic team to protect and expand one of Maine’s most critical resources,” said O’Halloran. “This is certainly a challenging environment, but I am confident that we can boldly and strategically navigate the path ahead.”

“Thanks to donors to the LifeFlight Foundation, we have been able to offer a world-class service to all Mainers at the lowest possible cost with among the lowest charges in the country,” said Judge. “As we look to the future and prepare to care for the next generation of Mainers, we are delighted that Kate O’Halloran has joined our team as the Foundation’s new executive director.”

The LifeFlight Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that everyone in Maine has access to emergency medical care when they need it most. The LifeFlight Foundation supports LifeFlight of Maine, the state’s only medical helicopter service providing a full range of critical care transport services for both interhospital and direct scene support. By raising philanthropic dollars and community awareness, The LifeFlight Foundation helps ensure that Maine’s most vulnerable patients receive the highest quality care when every minute counts. The Foundation raises funds for aircraft, medical equipment, and the many educational outreach programs offered by the LifeFlight of Maine crew. The LifeFlight Foundation and LifeFlight of Maine operate as separate 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations.