Oil and gas
10 refinery operations experts
These ten professionals have run refinery operations as operations superintendents, managers and directors at petroleum refiners. A reader can learn how refinery operations leaders build and run their teams at petroleum refineries.
Professionals to explore
01—10Brian Ricchi
LinkedInExperience: Operations Superintendent · Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Operations Superintendent at Marathon Petroleum Corporation since 2024. Former Refining Process Engineer (2022–2024) and Major Projects Process Engineer (2018–2019 and 2019–2022) at Marathon Petroleum Corporation. The profile describes an area team covering crude/vacuum, wastewater treatment and MBR units, managing 5 shift supervisors and 26+ hourly operators.
Joey Gilbert
LinkedInExperience: Process Superintendent · Placid Refining Company LLC
Process Superintendent at Placid Refining Company LLC since 2022. Former Operations Supervisor at Placid Refining Company LLC (1990–2022). The profile headline describes the current role as Process Operations Superintendent and lists it in the Operations department at manager level.
Joshua Cross
LinkedInExperience: Director of Refinery Operations · Valero
Director of Refinery Operations at Valero since 2024. Former Director of Refinery Operations - Diamond Green Diesel, LLC (2022–2024), Director of Refinery Operations (2021–2022) and Complex Manager (2015–2018 and 2018–2021) at Valero. The profile places the current role at the Valero Port Arthur Refinery and describes 25+ years leading petroleum refining and renewable fuels assets.
Keith Hammer
LinkedInExperience: Operations Superintendent · bp
Process Engineering Superintendent at BP since 2013. Former Operations Superintendent at bp (2011–2013). The profile describes the operations superintendent role as ensuring safe and reliable operations of several refinery process units, and the current role as leading a team of process engineers supporting refinery Oil Movements and Lakefront operations.
Kenny Cram
LinkedInExperience: Ops Superintendant · Valero
Ops Superintendant at Valero since 1998. The profile describes 37 years in the oil, gas and chemical industry, 28 of them in a supervisory capacity as a superintendent with 10 years as a step up complex manager, and 19 years as a Complex Team Leader in the Operations Department.
Leon Baptiste
LinkedInExperience: Operations Superintendent · Valero
Complex Manager at Valero since 2022. Former Operations Superintendent (2016–2022) and Supervisor Operations (2014–2016) at Valero, and Area Production Supervisor at Hovensa (2008–2013). The profile describes more than 20 years in the petroleum refining industry and knowledge of FCC, alkylation, acid plant, dimersol, sulfur plants and coker units.
Michael Webb
LinkedInExperience: Refinery Operations Superintendent - Crude Unit Virgin Light Ends Cat Feed Hydrotreater · Valero
Operations Complex Manager - HCU H2U Utilities Alky MRU NRU DHT at Valero since 2024. Former Manager Refinery Optimization (2022–2024) and Refinery Operations Superintendent - Crude Unit Virgin Light Ends Cat Feed Hydrotreater (2019–2022) at Valero. The profile describes leading 8 operations teams in the current complex manager role.
Mustafa Akca
LinkedInExperience: Refinery Operations Managing Director · SOCAR Türkiye
Refinery Operations Managing Director at SOCAR Türkiye since 2020. Former SOCAR Türkiye roles Operations Manager at Star Refinery (2017–2020), Commissioning Operations Lead Engineer at Star Refinery (2016–2017) and Comissioning Operations Supervisor at Star Refinery (2013–2016), and Operations Superintendent at Tüpraş (2012–2013).
Ryan McDonough
LinkedInExperience: Operations Superintendent · bp
Former Performance Unit Leader (2025–2026), Maintenance Excellence Manager (2023–2025), Operations Manager (2021–2023) and Operations Superintendent (2017–2020) at bp. The profile describes leading a team of Operations Superintendents accountable for the operation of a utilities asset, wastewater treatment plant and cogeneration facility at the Whiting Refinery.
Steve Hamilton
LinkedInExperience: Operations Manager · Monroe Energy, LLC
Operations Manager at Monroe Energy, LLC since 2023. Former Operations Area Manager - Business Team Leader (2017–2023) and Optimization Manager - Economics and Planning (2015–2017) at Monroe Energy, LLC, and FCC & Alkylation Complex Process Engineer at PBF Energy (2011–2013). The profile describes the area manager role as managing the optimization, planning and scheduling functions of the refinery.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope to your question, since a unit superintendent can speak to daily operation of specific process units while a director can speak to site-wide priorities and staffing. Also match the units involved, because crude, FCC, hydroprocessing and utilities areas raise different operating issues.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you structure shift teams and supervision on a refinery process unit?
- 02What do you track daily to catch reliability or process safety problems early?
- 03How do operations and planning work together to set unit targets and respond to margin changes?
Reaching refinery operations experts
How can I contact one of these refinery operations experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 6 companies, including Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Placid Refining Company LLC and Valero, based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach refinery operations experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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