Longtime operations leader steps into CEO role as global travel risks and air medical transport costs continue to rise
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Medjet, the premier global air-medical transport and security response membership program for travelers, today announced that Chief Operating Officer John Gobbels will become President and Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2026. Current CEO Mike Hallman will transition from day-to-day operations into the role of Chairman of the Board.
Gobbels brings more than 22 years of operational leadership at Medjet to his new position. Since joining the company in 2003, he has overseen Medjet’s global operations, coordinating complex air medical transport logistics and crisis response services for members around the world.
His appointment comes at a time when international travel security is becoming more urgent and more complex, and the cost of air ambulance transports are surging. Air medical transfers that once averaged between $20,000 and $180,000 can now cost $40,000 domestically and more than $250,000 internationally. Travelers increasingly face security concerns ranging from political unrest to extreme weather and regional instability.
“Travel today requires a different level of preparedness than it did even a few years ago,” said Gobbels. “Between sharply rising medical transport costs, escalating crime in tourist destinations, and geopolitical conflicts, such as the recent crises in Puerto Vallarta and across the Middle East, having the right support in place is more important for travelers than ever. Medjet’s mission has always been to give people peace of mind and greater control over their care and safety when they are far from home, and I’m honored to lead the company into its next chapter.”
Throughout his career, Gobbels has played a key role in expanding the company’s global response infrastructure, helping ensure members have reliable access to medical transport and security assistance services worldwide. He has an extensive background in critical care medical transport and administration, as well as several decades of experience in public safety, including law enforcement, firefighting, and emergency medical services. He holds a Master’s degree in Management and Information Technology from Carlow University in Pittsburgh, as well as multiple degrees in healthcare.
“Over the past three decades, Medjet has become the program trusted most by consumers, travel experts and marquee organizations across the U.S. and Canada,” said Hallman. “As international travel safety becomes more complicated and unpredictable, Medjet’s mission has never been more important. John’s operational expertise and deep understanding of our members’ needs make him the ideal leader to assume the CEO role.”
Medjet offers two core membership programs to individuals, families and corporations for their business travelers:
MedjetAssist® is their premier air medical transport membership program. If a member is hospitalized 150 miles or more from home, Medjet will arrange (and pay for) air medical transport to the member’s home hospital regardless of medical necessity. Unlike most travel insurance policies, business travel policies and premium credit card benefits that only transport an injured traveler to the “nearest adequate facility,” Medjet transports members all the way home to the doctors they know and hospitals they trust.
MedjetHorizon® expands on the MedjetAssist medical transport benefits by adding 24/7 travel security and crisis response services. Members have access to a global security response network for advice, in-country assistance, and extraction if necessary, for a wide range of safety crisis while traveling, including political threat, violent crime, terrorism, disappearance, natural disaster, wrongful detention and more.
Hallman, who successfully led Medjet through the global travel shutdowns of COVID and a post-COVID period of significant program growth, will work closely with Gobbels and the leadership team during the transition and continue to support Medjet’s long-term strategy as Chairman.
ABOUT MEDJET:
Medjet was the first company in the U.S. to implement the air-medical transport membership concept. Since 1991, Medjet has forged a robust global network of air medical transport and security response providers to meet traveler health and safety needs. At any given time, Medjet has access to hundreds of air ambulances, commercial medical escorts, and highly trained security and crisis response personnel, ready to launch from both domestic and international locations. The company most notably differentiates from other players in the market through its commitment to arrange air medical transfer, regardless of medical necessity, to the member’s hospital of choice in their home country. It is the preferred program for every major luxury travel consortium (including Virtuoso, Signature, Travel Leaders), and thousands of organizations including AARP, Morgan Stanley, and the NFL.
Medjet memberships are available to residents of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and protect members while traveling 150 miles or more from their primary residence.
Contacts
Media
Lindsay Jablonski
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