Anthony S. Marinello Celebrated for Excellence in the Field of Aviation, Law Enforcement and Emergency Management

Anthony S. Marinello is lauded for decades of success and his latest role as the president of Tropic Air Charters Inc.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, December 17, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ — Anthony S. Marinello is a distinguished biographee of Marquis Who’s Who. He was recently spotlighted in New York City’s Times Square on a 22-story screen that is passed by an estimated 1.5 million people daily. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are chosen from among a pool of the most prominent professionals and are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Marinello has built a distinguished career defined by service, innovation and leadership in aviation, law enforcement and emergency management. He is currently serving as the president of Tropic Air Charters Inc., operating under the name Tropic Air Rescue, a company he acquired in 2021. In this role, Mr. Marinello oversees several pilots who rotate through critical rescue missions and provide services to cruise lines. His vision for the company was unprecedented and included a groundbreaking initiative that established the first rescue helicopter program in the Bahamas in 2024. This achievement stands as his proudest professional milestone, as it introduced a life-saving service to a region where such a capability had never existed, with the potential to save countless lives.

Before becoming the president of his company, Mr. Marinello held several key roles that shaped his expertise in security and emergency management. From 2015 to 2021, he was the director of safety and security at HeliFlite in the New York City area, where he was responsible for developing and implementing safety protocols for helicopter operations. Between 2009 and 2015, Mr. Marinello worked as a simulator instructor for Canadian Aviation Electronics Inc., where he trained pilots on advanced flight simulators, sharing his extensive knowledge gained from decades of experience.

Among other notable roles, Mr. Marinello also served as the chief executive officer of SAS Group LLC, a private investigation security company, between 2007 and 2021, leveraging his previous experience in law enforcement to manage operations. In 2006 and 2007, Mr. Marinello became the first chief pilot of the Newark NJ City Police Department, where he initiated their aviation program and achieved a remarkable 20% reduction in crime within one year through strategic helicopter deployment.

Mr. Marinello’s earlier career included a long tenure with the New Jersey State Police, which spanned over 27 years from 1979 to 2006, rising through the ranks from state trooper to Sergeant First Class, helicopter pilot and training officer for the NJSP Avaition Bureau. Notably, he was just 19 when he joined the force and was one of the youngest ever to be accepted. Due to state law restrictions on firearm ownership for those under twenty-one, he required special dispensation from the attorney general to carry a gun on duty. During this same time period, Mr. Marinello also contributed to the Rutherford First Aid Squad. His journey began as an emergency medical technician for a local town from 1977 to 1985.

Mr. Marinello’s educational background included coursework toward an associate degree in police science between 1977 and 1979. He became a certified state trooper in 1979 and has held a pilot’s license since 1985.

In addition to his professional pursuits in aviation and public safety, Mr. Marinello has demonstrated professional and civic commitment. He notably served as the executive vice president of the New Jersey Licensed Private Investigators Association from 2014 to 2018. Mr. Marinello’s dedication to public service included serving as the mayor of Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, from 2021 to 2022, after his terms as deputy mayor from 2015 to 2021 and as a councilman from 2010 to 2014. He has also been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 2021.

Throughout his career, Mr. Marinello has been recognized for his expertise in security and emergency management and is regarded as an industry leader. Widely respected in his field, his professional insight has been sought after, including his recent expert analysis on probable causes following the tragic Hudson River helicopter crash near Manhattan, New York, that involved the tourists from Spain in 2025.

Mr. Marinello’s career has been marked by several high-profile rescues and international recognition. In March 2024, he launched Tropic Air Rescue’s inaugural mission, the first rescue helicopter service based in the Bahamas. Just days later, he led a daring operation at the request of Congressman Mills’s office to evacuate 10 Americans trapped amid political unrest at an orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Despite no official support from government agencies and facing significant risk, Mr. Marinello executed a precise rescue that saved all 10 individuals, including Pulitzer Prize-winning author Mitch Albom, within under 70 seconds on the ground.

Mr. Marinello estimates that throughout his tenure as a rescue helicopter pilot, which has spanned over 45 years, he has saved approximately 5,000 individuals. His dedication has earned him numerous accolades in 2024, including an award from the Knights of Columbus for saving lives in Haiti, Former New Jersey State Trooper of the Year award, and a Sikorsky Rescue Award from Sikorsky Aircraft. He was also featured in Columbia Magazine that year.

Looking ahead, Mr. Marinello remains committed to expanding Tropic Air Rescue’s reach while maximizing its positive impact on emergency response capabilities throughout the region. His goal is to save as many lives as possible while building a legacy rooted in service.