Dr. Josh Becker

Dr. Josh Becker, Ph.D., CSP, is a seasoned safety professional with extensive experience in both the military and civilian sectors. He operates a safety consulting business, serving industries across various business lines, and is a policy researcher for the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit institution that improves policy and decision-making through research and analysis.

Dr. Becker served as a UH-60 Helicopter Technical Inspector and Training/Safety Officer in the West Virginia Army National Guard for over 24 years. He holds a B.S. from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, an M.S. in Safety Management from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. from Capitol Technology University. He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and an OSHA Outreach Instructor for both General Industry and Construction. Dr. Becker also holds an FAA Airframe and Powerplant license and serves as a Quality Control Manager (CQM) for Army Corps of Engineers construction projects.

Dr. Becker's professional affiliations include serving as President of the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and as Deputy Regional Vice President for ASSP Region VIII. His contributions to the field have earned him several prestigious awards, including the 2022 BCSP Foundation Research-Doctoral Dissertation Grant, the 2022 ASSP Foundation Distinguished Service Scholarship, and multiple scholarships from the ASSP Foundation and other organizations.

Areas of Expertise:

• Safety Management
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Aviation Safety
• Quality Control Management
• Policy Research and Analysis

Biography:

Education:

• Ph.D. in Safety Management, Capitol Technology University
• M.S. in Safety Management, West Virginia University
• B.S. in Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Certifications:

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
• FAA Airframe and Powerplant License
• OSHA Outreach Instructor for General Industry and Construction

Professional Experience:

• Safety Consultant and Policy Researcher, RAND Corporation
• UH-60 Helicopter Technical Inspector and Training/Safety Officer, West Virginia Army National Guard

Honors & Awards:

• 2022 BCSP Foundation Research-Doctoral Dissertation Grant
• 2022 ASSP Foundation Distinguished Service Scholarship
• 2022 RAND Graduate Summer Associate
• 2021 ASSP Foundation Liberty Mutual Scholarship
• 2021 3M Personal Safety Division’s Occupational Health and Safety Scholarship
• 2019 ASSP James Joseph Davis Memorial Scholarship

Publications:

• "Pilot fatigue in the aviation sector and its effects: Uncovering the link between departure time within a duty day and accident rate," Capitol Technology University, 2023
• "Assessing the Readiness for Human Commercial Spaceflight Safety Regulations: Charting a Trajectory from Revolutionary to Routine Travel," RAND Corporation, 2023
• "Enter outer space at your own risk?" op-ed in Space News, 2023

Affiliations:

• President, Western Pennsylvania Chapter, American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)
• Deputy Regional Vice President, ASSP Region VIII