Donnie Woodyard, Jr.

Donnie's Story

Donnie Woodyard Jr., MAML, NRP, is a nationally recognized leader in emergency medical services, with over three decades of experience as an EMS leader, innovator, paramedic, and instructor. His career began in high school as a volunteer EMT in Pearisburg, Virginia, igniting a lifelong passion for prehospital care, education, and policy development.

By 19, he became a Paramedic, earning his certification from Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, while concurrently attending Cedarville University. He later earned degrees from Indiana University and a Master's in Management and Leadership from Liberty University. Currently, he is completing a Doctorate in Law & Policy, focusing on the intersection of EMS regulation, interstate compacts, and national security.

Donnie has served in multiple key EMS leadership roles, including the State EMS Director for Louisiana and Colorado, a Paramedic Program Director, and EMS Chief, spearheading modernization efforts in EMS education, technology, and governance. His work in EMS policy and interstate practice has shaped regulatory frameworks that enhance clinician mobility and emergency response coordination across states.

His international experience includes leading EMS development in Sri Lanka and South Asia, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the foundation for the modern EMS systems in Sri Lanka. He also led large medical teams responding to regional disaster and conflict zones. Upon returning to the U.S., he was appointed Louisiana's State EMS Director, where he led efforts to digitize EMS licensure and enhance state-level EMS coordination.

He later joined the National Registry of EMTs as Chief Information Officer and subsequently the Chief Operating Officer, overseeing advancements like the National EMS ID system, mobile applications, and the design of the National EMS Coordinated Database.

In 2019, Donnie returned to state EMS leadership as the Chief of Emergency Medical and Trauma Services for the state of Colorado. While in this role he was appointed as Colorado's Commissioner to the United States EMS Compact. His leadership was recognized nationally, leading to his election as Vice Chair and later Chair of the EMS Compact's governing body. In 2023, Donnie was appointed Executive Director of the United States EMS Compact, where he continues to advance interstate licensure, national EMS preparedness, and policy integration for EMS governance at the federal and state levels.

Beyond EMS, Donnie is a Scuba Dive Master with over 800 dives and a fixed-wing pilot, currently serving as Squadron Commander with the United States Air Force Auxiliary – Civil Air Patrol. His humanitarian work spans disaster and war zone response missions in Haiti, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Ukraine and Bangladesh.

A respected authority in EMS policy, mobility, and workforce regulation, Donnie has authored and consulted on EMS governance, education, and national security initiatives. He is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School's Executive Leadership Program, holds a certificate in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare from Harvard University, and continues to shape the future of EMS through policy, leadership, and governance reform.