News Release | American Ambulance Association to Celebrate 167 EMS Heroes as 2026 Stars of Life
October 15, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Emily Nichols
Enichols@ambulance.org
American Ambulance Association to Celebrate 167 EMS Heroes as 2026 Stars of Life
Washington, DC — October 15, 2026 — The American Ambulance Association (AAA) is proud to announce the 2026 Stars of Life honorees, recognizing outstanding emergency medical services (EMS) professionals whose dedication, compassion, and commitment to serving others make a lasting impact on their communities. These honorees include paramedics, EMTs, dispatchers, and other EMS professionals who represent the very best of the profession.
The 2026 Stars of Life celebration will take place November 16–18, 2026, in Washington, DC, bringing together EMS professionals from across the country for three days of recognition and celebration. Throughout the event, honorees will be celebrated for their outstanding service, connect with fellow EMS professionals, and meet with members of Congress to share their stories and highlight the vital role of EMS in communities nationwide.
“We are incredibly proud to recognize our largest Stars of Life class to date, with 167 outstanding EMS professionals representing 40 states,” said AAA President Jamie Pafford-Gresham.
This year’s record-breaking class reflects the dedication and impact of EMS professionals across the country. Each honoree brings a unique story of service, highlighting the many ways they make a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve.
“Every day, these individuals dedicate themselves to serving others, making a lasting impact through both the extraordinary moments and the everyday acts of care that often go unseen. It is an honor to recognize their contributions and share their stories on a national stage.”
In addition to the Stars, Congressman Mike Carey will be recognized as the 2026 AAA Legislator of the Year. The AAA will also honor 32 members of Congress with Legislative Recognition Awards for their ongoing support of mobile healthcare and the EMS Profession.
This year’s distinguished Stars of Life honorees are:
Dave Adam, Director of Fleet Maintenance, Beauport Ambulance Service, Inc., Lynn, MA
Jessica Adams, Community Education Coordinator, Falck Alameda County, Hayward, CA
Wayne Atchley, Emergency Medical Technician / FTO, Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance, Holmen, WI
Ashley Baker, Paramedic Captain, Supervisor of the Year, Spirit EMS, Celina, OH
Clyde Ballard, Founder, Ballard Services, Inc., Wenatchee, WA
Carla Baranco, Paramedic, Beauport Ambulance Service, Inc., Melrose, MA
Hadden Barthol, Paramedic, Southern Paramedic Services, Harrison, AR
Kiara Baum, Emergency Medical Technician FTO, American Medical Response, Oswego, NY
Liam Benshemer, Paramedic, New London Hospital, West Lebanon, NH
Colen Bishop, Paramedic / FTO, American Medical Response, Floyd, VA
Bridget Blair, Paramedic / FTO, Shoals Ambulance, Bessemer, AL
Roland Blanchard, Paramedic, Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. (EASI), Beebe, AR
Traci Blondeau, EMS Instructor, Fox Valley Technical College, Hortonville, WI
Rachel Borsich, Quality Improvement Supervisor & EMT, Mecklenburg EMS Agency, Belmont, NC
Carrie Boulton, Paramedic Team Leader, Monroe Community Ambulance, Brownstown Twp, MI
Gregory Brooks, Chief Logistics Officer, MedEx Medical Transport, Ahoskie, NC
Shawn Burch, Paramedic, EMSA, Tulsa, OK
Sara Campbell, Paramedic, East Baton Rouge Parish EMS, Baton Rouge, LA
Jerry Campos, Sr. Air Medical Base Supervisor, PHI Air Medical LLC, Phoenix, AZ
Vern Caygle, Emergency Medical Technician, Pafford EMS of Mississippi, Mantachie, MS
Cindy Chiles, Paramedic and Supervisor, Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. (EASI), Pine Bluff, AR
Hajin Choi, Paramedic, Northwell Health System Center for EMS, Westbury, NY
Rhiannon Chuck, Paramedic, Pacific West Ambulance, Salem, OR
Kevin Clark, Paramedic/Clinical Field Supervisor, Cataldo Ambulance Service, Wethersfield, CT
Taylor Cohen, Operations Manager, FALCK LA, Orange, CA
Shelby Costa, Paramedic FTO, American Medical Response, Ramona, CA
Katie Crain, Paramedic, Shift Officer, Woodburn Ambulance, Salem, OR
Carolita Crockett, Training Lieutenant, Mercy Ambulance Service, Guyton, GA
Ana Dalpe, Lead Pre-Billing & Translation Specialist, Armstrong Ambulance Service, Arlington, MA
Maryam Dawood, Emergency Medical Technician, Medstar Ambulance, Sterling Heights, MI
Rebekka DeLarosa, Paramedic, Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service, South Bend, IN
Sofie DeValk, Emergency Medical Technician, Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, WI
Hadley Eager, Emergency Medical Technician, Cascade Ambulance, Bellingham, WA
Kayla Edgar, Paramedic Supervisor, Lake Valley EMS, Broadalbin, NY
Dusty Edwards, Logistics Manager, Mecklenburg EMS Agency, Wingate, NC
William Emery, Advanced-EMT, North East Mobile Health Services, Farmington, ME
Karla Eppler, Clinical Manager of EMS Education, Emplify Health EMS Education, Holmen, WI
Daniel Estey, Paramedic, Medix Ambulance, Longview, WA
Tyler Felten, Critical Care Transport RN, Maricopa Ambulance, Phoenix, AZ
Michael Fenwick, Paramedic, Medic Ambulance Service Inc., Elk Grove, CA
Nathaniel Ficklen, Sergeant, Metropolitan EMS, Greenbrier, AR
Seth Fieth, Paramedic, Pafford Medical Services, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK
Kaitlyn Freeman, Critical Care Paramedic, Medstar Ambulance, Owosso, MI
Lester Freemantle, Captain, Mohawk Ambulance Service, Pittstown, NY
Curt Garrison, Paramedic, Operations Manager, Spirit EMS, Greenville, OH
Jeffrey Goran, Emergency Medical Technician, American Medical Response, Atlanta, GA
John Greathouse, Flight Paramedic, LifeNet, Hot Springs, AR
Abbie Green, Paramedic / Lieutenant / FTO, Lifeguard Ambulance Service, Moulton, AL
Richard Grill Jr., Operations Supervisor, Seals Ambulance, Munchie, IN
Lily Guidry, Paramedic, East Baton Rouge Parish EMS, Baton Rouge, LA
Steven Hardesty, Base Manager/ Flight Nurse, REACH, Layton, UT
Robert Hardwick, EMT-I99, American Medical Response, Pierre, SD
Jacob Harris, Sergeant, Metropolitan EMS, Conway, AR
Jason Hawkins, EMT – Intermediate, Medix Ambulance, Seaside, OR
Debra Headley, Crew Supervisor, Mercy Regional EMS, Broken Arrow, OK
Taliyah Hockaday, EMT / Field Training Officer, LifeCare Medical Transports, Newport News, VA
Blake Hoelscher, Flight Nurse, Air Evac Lifeteam, Salado, TX
Maison Hooten, Paramedic, American Medical Response, Rio Rancho, NM
Bryar Hopkins, Flight Paramedic, REACH, Roseville, CA
Ryan Horn, Paramedic, American Medical Response, Sandy Hook, CT
Danyel Hornaday, Senior Paramedic, FTO, Pioneer Ambulance, North Powder, OR
Nicole Hughes, Quality and Compliance Manager, CCP, PHRN, Advanced Medical Transport, Mapleton, IL
Adam Jackson, Sergeant, Metropolitan EMS, Little Rock, AR
Jacob James, EMT, Fox Valley Technical College, Waupaca, WI
Richard Johnson III, Operations Supervisor, Central EMS, Augusta, GA
Shane Kessler, Operations Supervisor, Pafford EMS of Louisiana, Deville, LA
Michael Krucinski, Paramedic, Life EMS Ambulance, White Cloud, MI
Amy Kruger, Director of Education, Metro-Area Ambulance Service, Mandan, ND
Diane Lane, Vice President of Operations, Frontier Ambulance, Riverton, WY
Nicky Langdon, RN/Paramedic, Air Evac Lifeteam, Clarkson, KY
Brandon Lauer, EMT, Legacy EMS, Pueblo, CO
Heather Ledbetter, Paramedic, Field Training Officer, Pafford Medical Services, Prescott, AR
Logan Lehrer, Wildland Firefighter, Fox Valley Technical College, Neenah, WI
Jeannie Lewis, Advanced EMT, Employee of the Year, Spirit EMS, Eaton, OH
Garrett Lide, Paramedic, Magnolia Ambulance, Meridian, MS
Katherine Livsey, Paramedic, Action Ambulance Service, Adams, MA
Jonathan Llanas, CCT Paramedic, Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Wisconsin Inc., Slinger, WI
Matthew Lonon, Flight Paramedic, Med-Trans Corp / Regional One Air Medical, Marion, NC
Micah Lorenz, Captain, Austin-Travis County EMS, Austin, TX
Amy Major, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, New London Hospital, Charlestown, NH
Benjamin Marsh, Emergency Medical Technician, Fox Valley Technical College, Lannon, WI
Kelly Marsh, Paramedic/RN, Action Ambulance Service, Moultonborough, NH
Jess Mayberry, Paramedic, Bell Ambulance, Inc., Waukesha, WI
Elle McCollum, Shift Leader/Paramedic, Linn County Ambulance District, Brookfield, MO
Markie McGowan, Paramedic – Supervisor, Life EMS Ambulance, Fennville, MI
Jessica Mills, Flight Nurse, Med-Trans Corp / Regional One Air Medical, Laurens, SC
Wallace Mills, Paramedic Supervisor, American Medical Response, South Berwick, ME
Jacob Monser, EMT/Lieutenant, Mohawk Ambulance Service, Schenetady, NY
Alexia Morgan, Emergency Medical Technician, Medstar Ambulance, Detroit, MI
Christina Mount-Barnes, Operations Supervisor, Puckett EMS, South Pittsburg, TN
Misae Nomiyama, Flight Paramedic, REACH, Spanish Fork, UT
Charles Nunez, Lieutenant/Paramedic, Legacy EMS, Peyton, CO
Matthew O’Leary, Emergency Medical Technician / FTO, Armstrong Ambulance Service, Arlington, MA
Loralee Olejnik, Community Educator, Falck / Care Ambulance, San Diego, CA
Travis Paden, Clinical Coordinator, Superior Mobile Health, San Antonio, TX
Abraham Paternoster, Paramedic, Huron Valley Ambulance, Ann Arbor, MI
Gina Pendleton, Paramedic, Action Ambulance Service, Pembroke, MA
Tyler Perkins, Paramedic, EMSA, Duncan, OK
Darren Peterson, Paramedic, Mayo Clinic Ambulance, Lake Nebagamon, WI
Andre Pinkston, Paramedic, American Medical Response, McDonough, GA
Scarlett Plante, Paramedic, Regional Ambulance Service, Inc., Pittsford, VT
Connie Porter, Paramedic, American Medical Response, Lihue, HI
Perry Prete, Paramedic, AirMed International, Brockville, ON
George Qare, Paramedic, Medic Ambulance Service Inc., Sacramento, CA
Robert Quast, Emergency Medical Technician, M Health Fairview / HealthEast, Woodbury, MN
Caitlyn Rainwater, Emergency Medical Technician, FALCK OC, San Clemente, CA
Allison Reed, Paramedic, Bay Cities Ambulance, Reedsport, OR
Hailey Reviere, Paramedic, Acadian Ambulance, Carencro, LA
Anela Riehl, Emergency Medical Technician, Fox Valley Technical College, Honolulu, HI
Amy Robertson, Paramedic, LifeNet, Texarkana, AR
Mark Rock, Paramedic, American Medical Response, Carpinteria, CA
Sara Rolando, Director of Operations, Medics First of Springfield, Illinois, Sherman, IL
Krista Ruley, Emergency Medical Technician FTO, American Medical Response, Washington, DC
Kevin Sabella, Sergeant, Metropolitan EMS, Alexander, AR
Jose Sanabria, FTO Supervisor/EMT, Bell Ambulance, Inc., Milwaukee, WI
Christopher Schoenherr, Paramedic – Supervisor, Life EMS Ambulance, Custer, MI
Larissa Schwerin, Paramedic, Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service Inc. (Illinois), Villa Park, IL
Debra Scott, Training & Development Manager, EMT-P, LI, LifeLine Ambulance LLC, St. Charles, IL
Roland Scott, Advanced EMT, East Baton Rouge Parish EMS, Baton Rouge, LA
Jennifer Seals, Paramedic, Pafford Medical Services, Inc., Pontotoc, MS
Cheyenne Seigman, Clinical & Safety Lead, Superior Mobile Health, San Antonio, TX
Jordan Sisneros, Paramedic, American Medical Response, Pueblo West, CO
Emily Smayra, Paramedic Supervisor, American Medical Response, Lockeford, CA
Abby Smith, Paramedic/Lieutenant, Lifeguard Ambulance Service, Columbia, MS
Tina Spittler, Dispatcher, Mohawk Ambulance Service, Ballston Lake, NY
Michael Stern, Emergency Medical Technician, Northwell Health System Center for EMS, Bronx, NY
Ryan Stewart, Paramedic, REACT Emergency Medical Service, Stroud, OK
Hunter Struemke, Critical Care Paramedic, Lakes Region EMS, North Branch, MN
Holden Sylvan, Emergency Medical Technician/ FTO, Olympic Ambulance, Bremerton, WA
Claire Marie Teal, Paramedic/Lieutenant, Mohawk Ambulance Service, Averill Park, NY
Shannon Thompson, Advanced EMT, Medshore Ambulance, Walhalla, SC
Forrest Tracey, Emergency Medical Technician, American Medical Response, Albuquerque, NM
Jeff Traviss, Paramedic, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Roseburg, OR
Katie Tribley, Flight Nurse – Base Clinical Lead, REACH, Capitola, CA
Jordan Turner, Flight Nurse/Paramedic, Air Evac Lifeteam, Beaver Dam, KY
James Underwood, Operations Supervisor, LifeNet, Wagner, OK
Kaitlyn Vandervest, Paramedic, American Medical Response, West Olive, MI
Eli Velasco, Paramedic, Del Norte Ambulance, Eureka, CA
Julianna Votava, Paramedic, LifeCare Ambulance, Kalamazoo, MI
Gary Wadham, Flight Paramedic, Air Evac Lifeteam, Georgetown, TX
Brandon Waldorff, Operations Manager, Sunstate Ambulance, Altha, FL
Don Walker, Paramedic/Clinical Field Supervisor, Cataldo Ambulance Service, Ctr Barnstead, NH
Blanca Morfin Watkins, Paramedic, American Medical Response, Solvang, CA
Beth Watt, Flight Paramedic, REACH, Millville, CA
Miranda Welch, Paramedic, Southern Paramedic Services, Frisco, TX
David White, Operations Supervisor / Paramedic, Ambulance Service of Manchester, Vernon, CT
Michael Wholihan, Financial Coordinator/EMT, McCandless-Franklin Park Amb Auth, Allison Park, PA
Eric Wilson, Assistant Chief of Operations, Rescue Inc., Townshend, VT
Jinina Wilson, Field Supervisor / Advanced EMT, Acadian Ambulance, West Monroe, LA
Kirk Winkelman, Critical Care Paramedic, Lakes Region EMS, North Branch, MN
Wendy Wollaeger, Paramedic, Cataldo Ambulance Service, Rowley, MA
Cody Zehnder, Critical Care Paramedic, Emplify Health Ambulance, Caledonia, MN
Scott Zettelmeyer, Paramedic, REMSA Health, Reno, NV
Please note that members of the media are welcome to attend the Stars of Life Banquet at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill hotel on November 17, 2026, from 7:00–9:00 pm. Interviews with Stars of Life will be available.
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About The American Ambulance Association
Caring for People—First.
The American Ambulance Association safeguards the future of mobile healthcare through advocacy, thought leadership, and education. AAA advances sustainable EMS policy, empowering our members to serve their communities with high-quality on-demand healthcare. For more than 40 years, we have proudly represented those who care for people first.