Joe Leimkuhler is the Chief Operating Officer for Beacon Offshore Energy, located in Houston Texas and Covington Louisiana, Joe is responsible for all company operations, engineering and project development.  Beacon is a privately held Deepwater Gulf of Mexico operator with six offshore subsea fields producing and an active exploration and development program, including Shenandoah one of the first 20K developments.  Prior to February 2019 Joe was the Vice President of Drilling for LLOG Exploration based in Covington, Louisiana.  At LLOG Joe was responsible for all well based engineering and operations, from design, execution and safety, Joe also managed external and government relations for the company.  Prior to joining LLOG in early 2012 Joe spent 25 years with Shell Oil.  Joe was the Offshore Well Delivery Manager for Shell International E&P Co, (SIEP) and Shell E&P – Americas, covering all Gulf of Mexico well operations.   

Joe serves as the current Chairman of the Board for the HWCG Well Containment Group, the National Board of Directors for the American Association of Drilling Engineers (ADDE), and served as the National President of AADE from 2007 to 2009.  Joe is also on the Board of Directors for the National Ocean Industries Association and chairs the HSE Committee for Offshore Operations.   

Joe graduated from the University of Montana in 1981 with a BS degree in Geology and Forestry; in 1987 he graduated from the University of Wyoming with a MS in Petroleum Engineering. He is a 40-year member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and also serves on multiple University Engineering Advisory boards focused on Petroleum Engineering.  In 2022 Joe was awarded the University of Wyoming Distinguished Alumni Award  in 2019 Joe was awarded the UW Eminent Engineer award.  In 2017 Joe was awarded the AADE Lifetime Outstanding Service award, and in 2011 Joe was awarded Meritorious Service Awards from API and AADE. Joe and his wife Stephanie live in Mandeville, LA, they have two grown children and 7 grand children