John E. McGlade was chosen to receive the inaugural SkillsUSA Champion of the Year Award in October of 2010. This award is given each year to recognize the leadership of an executive of an organization doing exemplary work in the creation and support of America’s highly skilled workforce and to recognize executives for their corporation’s involvement in promoting and supporting career and technical education.

Under McGlade’s leadership, Air Products has integrated support for SkillsUSA in a number of ways with employees from around the country serving on technical committees for the SkillsUSA Championships, and on task forces and boards of state and local SkillsUSA chapters. Air Products’ employees are active in judging local, state and national student competitions and with the SkillsUSA Youth Development Foundation.  The company provides financial support for SkillsUSA initiatives such as the Professional Development Program, and is helping SkillsUSA build its national network through support of the Alumni & Friends Association. Air Products employees developed a best practice guidebook to help the organization forge business/education partnerships with career and technical schools around the country.

Mr. McGlade was appointed president and chief executive officer of Air Products in October 2007 and chairman of the board in April 2008.  In this role, he is focused on setting the strategy and policies of the company, developing leadership, and meeting shareholder commitments.

Mr. McGlade joined Air Products in 1976 as a participant in the company’s Career Development Program.  He subsequently held various positions within the Industrial Gases Division, rising to executive positions by 1994. By 2003, McGlade was named vice president, Chemicals Group, in which he had global responsibility for the Group, as well as the company’s industrial gas and chemicals manufacturing organization, and Environment, Health, Safety and Quality.  He was appointed president and chief operating officer in 2006 before assuming his current position.

Mr. McGlade was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he attended Liberty High School and Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School.  He attended Lehigh University where he earned a B.S. degree in industrial engineering in 1976 and an M.B.A. in 1980.

Mr. McGlade serves on the board of directors of the American Chemistry Council.  He also is a trustee of Lehigh University and The Rider-Pool Foundation, and a member of the SteelStacks leadership team.