The View From the Starboard Seat

I’ve spent the last 15 years in the co-pilot’s chair.

As managing editor of Utility Fleet Professional since the very beginning, my job has been to navigate – checking the maps, verifying the data and ensuring that every article we publish meets the high standards of the utility fleet community.

But the seating chart has changed in recent months. With Sean Lyden stepping down as editor at the end of 2025, I have assumed that role.

The transition thus far has felt a bit like a technician moving from the shop floor to the fleet manager’s office. They know the equipment inside and out, they’ve seen every spec sheet, and they’ve felt the pulse of the industry for years – but the view is different when they’re the one responsible for the final calls.

Fortunately, I’m not starting this journey from scratch. Being an instrumental part of UFP since its inception has granted me a front-row seat to perhaps the most transformative decade in utility fleet history. I’ve watched telematics mature from buzzword to survival tool, and I’ve seen the industry’s all-in stance on electrification shift toward a more pragmatic, diversified approach.

My vision for this publication remains rooted in the same philosophy I’ve always applied to my work: precision matters. In the utility world, a small spec’ing oversight can lead to a safety hazard in a right-of-way or an obscenely expensive headache. The bottom line: You don’t have room for fluff and inaccuracies in your fleet, nor will you find any in these pages.

In this and future issues of UFP, we will continue to dive deep into the complexities of utility fleet operations and leadership. I am honored to take on this expanded editorial role and invite each of you to reach out to me regarding the fleet challenges you’re facing, the industry-specific questions you’re seeking to answer and the motivations driving you forward.

Let’s get to work.