Ep 37. NAEMT Radio – Meet two of the 2024 National EMS Awards of Excellence Winners

In this edition of NAEMT Radio we get to meet, greet and hear from two of our 2024 National EMS Awards of Excellence recipients.  Joining Rob Lawrence is 2024 NAEMT Military Medic of the Year Award, Master Sgt. (Ret.) Jonathan Lu, Special Forces Medical Sergeant who served with a Special Forces Operational Detachment- Alpha Team and Zachary Alvey, full time EMT with Ute Pass Regional Health Services District, our 2024 NAEMT EMT of the Year recipient.

Master Sgt. Lu’s military journey culminated as the Chief Medical Operations NCO and Senior Enlisted Medical Advisor for the U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), where his leadership and vision ensured the medical operational readiness and holistic well-being of his fellow Green Berets and Special Operations Forces soldiers.

EMT Alvey’s journey in EMS is marked not only by professional accomplishments but also by a profound commitment to mentorship and community service. His tireless advocacy and leadership efforts are helping to shape the landscape of emergency medical care and ensure a stable and fruitful career path for future EMS professionals.

The awards will be presented during NAEMT’s General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, September 10, and at the Opening Ceremony of EMS World Expo on Wednesday, September 11 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Zachary Alvey

Alvey embodies the essence of dedication and service in the field of EMS with a focus on patient care. “Zach is the truest definition of a dedicated and driven EMS practitioner,” said his supervisor. With over a decade of unwavering service and now at Ute Pass Regional Health Services District, Alvey serves as a full-time 911 EMT with a daily commitment to the community to provide accessible, high-quality medical care for all. Beyond his clinical role, he is deeply involved in shaping the future of EMS through his leadership as President of The Friends of Emergency Medical Services Board, a political action committee, and the Ute Pass Regional EMS Partnership. He is also the only EMT on the Colorado State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board. Alvey is a member of the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) Colorado Chapter, where he works toward the advancement of EMS practices and policies. He also serves NAEMT as an advocacy assistant to support association advocacy goals at the national level. His passion for EMS legislation and advocacy contributed to his appointment to the Colorado Emergency Medical Practice Advisory Council (EMPAC) in 2022, representing Basic Life Support (BLS) practitioners and advocating for his fellow EMTs. He was the EMS Association of Colorado’s 2023 BLS EMS Professional of the Year. Alvey imparts knowledge and inspires future generations of EMS practitioners by serving as an EMT instructor at the University of Colorado Health and Pikes Peak State College. His journey in EMS is marked not only by professional accomplishments but also by a profound commitment to mentorship and community service. His tireless advocacy and leadership efforts are helping to shape the landscape of emergency medical care and ensure a stable and fruitful career path for future EMS professionals.

U.S. Army Master Sgt. (Ret.) Jonathan Lu

Master Sgt. Lu, a first-generation immigrant, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2003 as a combat medic. Throughout his career, he demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his comrades and was driven by a high mission to care for those on his left and right. As a route clearance patrol medic, Master Sgt. Lu witnessed the profound impact of traumatic brain injury and PTSD on his comrades, which inspired him. He pursued advanced training, qualified as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant, and rose to the role of Special Forces Operational Detachment- Alpha Team Sergeant. “Jon’s expertise in providing prehospital medical trauma care is a cornerstone of his reputation as the most technically and tactically proficient special forces medic in his unit,” said his colleague. His military journey culminated as the Chief Medical Operations NCO and Senior Enlisted Medical Advisor for the U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), where his leadership and vision ensured the medical operational readiness and holistic well-being of his fellow Green Berets and Special Operations Forces soldiers. A 2020 Tillman Scholar, Master Sgt. Lu embodies the mission of the Pat Tillman Foundation, which unites and empowers remarkable military service members, veterans, and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self. Master Sgt. Lu previously served his rural community as a volunteer firefighter/EMT and as president of his local firefighters’ association. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Health Sciences and a Master of Public Health from George Washington University, as well as a Doctorate in Behavioral Health from Arizona State University—all completed while serving as an active-duty Special Forces enlisted soldier.

Now a civilian, he is the director of the Center for Health Professions at Wright State University. He is also the founder and CEO of HardHat Wellness, a consulting firm serving the unique workforce health and wellness needs of first responder, healthcare, and high-hazard industries. Through his professional, academic, and volunteer work—and in true Green Beret fashion—he continues to empower agents of political, economic, and social change. His dedication to others serves as a lighthouse, shining brightly, so others may find their way toward building a more compassionate and equitable future for all.

The full press release covering all winners is available here: https://www.naemt.org/WhatsNewALLNEWS/2024/08/07/2024-national-ems-awards-of-excellence-recipients-announced