James Rawson is Vice President, Crude Supply & Asphalt of Hunt Refining Company. In this role, he manages the purchasing of crude oil feedstocks from a variety of sources including domestic and international producers. In addition to crude supply, he manages the marketing of asphalt that is sold throughout the United States to both paving customers and industrial customers such as shingle manufacturers.
Rawson has led several groups in various capacities throughout his time at Hunt Refining Company. In 2009, he took over responsibility for Maintenance and Reliability at the Tuscaloosa Refinery. In 2014, he transitioned into Logistics where he managed the feedstock logistics. In 2016, he was appointed Director of Crude Supply and Logistics. He has worked to improve crude feedstocks through consistent evaluation of new and existing feedstocks that meet operational limitations while improving margins. He has worked multiple major turnarounds that were completed safely, on time and on budget.
Prior to joining Hunt Refining Company in 2004, Rawson worked at ExxonMobil as a Mechanical Contact engineer where he supported multiple units providing mechanical scopes, improvement suggestions, detailed analysis of equipment and maintenance support. He was able to gain a strong foundation of refinery operations and corporate structure that has served him well.
Rawson earned a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University summa cum laude in Mechanical Engineering. He served in various leadership roles during his college career including President of Phi Theta Kappa and President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers chapter.