Pete Shirley

Pete Shirley is the Director, STOs for Asset Performance Networks, based out of the company’s office in Houston, Texas. Pete’s more than 30 years of experience include work in the refining, petrochemical, and associated service industries, as well as more than a decade serving onboard U.S. Navy submarines. This diverse background affords him a wide technical understanding of multiple disciplines from both owner and contractor perspectives. In his current role, Pete shares responsibility for the development and growth of the company’s presence in the United States.

Since joining AP-Networks, Pete has executed more than 40 assessments each year. These assessments have run the gamut of AP-Networks services, including Turnaround Assist Programs (T-AP), Integrated Turnaround Assist Programs (iT-AP), Experience Augmentations (EA), and Risk Based Scope Reviews (RBSR). In addition to executing RBSRs, Pete developed the software behind the RBSR process, as well as a software based tool for resource planning.

Prior to joining AP-Networks, Pete worked as the Vice President, Division Manager for United Laboratories International, where he gained a “vendor side” understanding of the turnaround market, as well as a comprehensive understanding of process equipment contaminants and decontamination technologies. Pete also worked for Celanese Chemicals, managing the specialists and engineers responsible for the reliability and inspection of the plant’s equipment. He also led the turnaround team, and oversaw the preparation and execution of multiple planned and unplanned turnarounds. At Sunoco, Pete held many roles including Fixed Equipment Engineer, Maintenance Superintendent, and Turnaround Manager.

As a nuclear trained submarine officer and Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, Pete gained extensive hands-on experience in leadership, controls, instrumentation, power distribution, fixed equipment, rotating equipment, quality controls, operations, and maintenance. As an industry thought leader, Pete has presented on technical topics at TINC, AFPM (formerly NPRA), Middle East PETROTECH, and The International Refiners’ Conference. He has also authored white papers for AFPM, Sulfur.com, and Coking.com.

Pete holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park and an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business. In addition, he is a qualified U.S. Navy nuclear engineering department head, and holds a top 1/3 U.S. Navy nuclear program technical rating.