Darwin's passion for safety was fueled in his early childhood by his father (retired USAF). From flying with his father, to motocross and drag racing, to working with his father in the oil fields, to skydiving, it was obvious; there is a definite need for safety. As Darwin entered and started his military service, the event of an aircraft explosion on the ramp ignited his calling to be part of the safety movement. He fostered his skillset of safety in the aircraft maintenance field, then as an aviator, while adding occupational safety and health and weapons safety to his expertise. The nature of events taking place this next decade flying special operations and specialized task force shaped his career into anything but normal. From flying under the cloak of darkness to operations outside of the normal missions, safety became the essential tool of survival on the battlefield and corporate world.
Mr. Copsey's passion for Environmental Health and Safety has allowed him to fill positions such as Safety Manager, Compliance Manager, Security Manager, Production Manager, Operations Manager, VP/COO Consulting Firm, Pilot, Flight Engineer, Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic. Darwin holds multiple degrees with Masters specializing in Safety, Human Factors, and Adult Education, as well as the credentials of: Safety, Health & Environmental Professional (SHEP), Certified Safety & Health Official (CSHO) for General and Construction Industries, Specialist In Safety & Health (SSH) for General and Construction Industries, Authorized OSHA 10 and 30 Hour General Industry and Construction Industry Outreach Trainer, Safety Management System (SMS) Program Management SME, and Risk Management Trainer.
Darwin held the positions NTEPS Charter Secretary from March 2018 to June 2019 and NTEPS Charter Vice President from June 2019 to April 2021.
Phone: (682) 231-0453 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Joe Avila served 4 years in the U. S. Army in a main support battalion, operating heavy equipment and supporting the 1st Infantry Division with hazardous materials, such as fuels, oils and solvents. In 1996, he left the military to pursue a degree in Hazardous Materials Management at TSTC-Marshall. Early on, Joe started a part-time job for J-W Power Company as the Plant Safety Coordinator in Longview, TX. He changed his major to safety and health, and completed an AAS degree in EHS from TSTC in 1998. Joe went on to obtain a Completion Certificate from Kilgore College in Prehospital Emergency Care, and was a certified EMT in Texas from 1999-2007. In 1999, Joe started classes at UT-Tyler, and obtained his BS in Industrial Safety in May 2001.
Soon after graduating, J-W Operating Company hired him to be the organization's first corporate safety and health employee. As J-W grew to become one of the largest privately owned oil and gas services companies in the U.S., Joe helped to develop an HSE Department, programs and policies. Since then, he has served in several roles with J-W’s various subsidiaries and worked on numerous projects, always in some form of regulatory compliance, for 22 years and counting. Joe holds numerous certifications, including H2S Master Trainer, PEC Safeland Instructor, National Safety Council First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor and Crane Institute of America Overhead Crane Inspector.
Joe served as the NTEPS Charter President from March 2018 to April 2021.
