Joe Bennett graduated from the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in December 1977 and completed the Harvard Advanced Management Program in 2006. He worked for KPMG from January 1978 through March 1990 attaining the level of Audit Senior Manager, working primarily with several large SEC oil and gas clients.

Joe joined Tidewater in March 1990 as Corporate Controller and was promoted to Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer in August 2001. In April 2005, he was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Investor Relations Officer while maintaining his role as Principal Accounting Officer. In June 2008, he was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Investor Relations Officer, and is responsible for coordinating communications with shareholders and the investment community.

Joe is a certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants. He lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife, Claire, and has four children.