Durham, NC-- Durham Deputy County Manager Lee Worsley announced today the appointment of Howard “Skip” Kirkwood, Jr. as the new Durham County Emergency Medical Services Director. He is currently employed with Wake County’s EMS System serving as Chief, Emergency Medical Services Division/Deputy Director since 2005.
With over 30 years in EMS leadership at the national, state and local levels, Kirkwood is highly regarded for his expertise in management of direct services, regulation and policy, advocacy, teaching, research and publication. As Durham County’s Director of EMS, he will directly manage the Durham County EMS staff of 112, in 9 locations and a budget of $8.6m as well as be responsible for the management of the entire Durham County EMS System.
Worsley said of the appointment, “I am happy to welcome Skip to Durham County. Skip has a long and distinguished career in the field of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and has held numerous state and national leadership positions in EMS professional organizations. Skip is regarded by many to be a leading authority on innovative EMS practices, and we are very pleased that he will be leading the Durham County EMS System.”
In accepting the new position, Kirkwood stated, “I'm very excited to be joining Durham County EMS and the Durham County management team. Durham County has a long and proud history of leadership in emergency medical services, as befits a county whose seat is known as the ‘City of Medicine’. I'm looking forward to helping an already good organization become even better as we bring quality emergency medical services to the citizens of Durham County.”
In addition to his tenure in Wake County, his extensive professional career includes service as Executive Director/Chief EMS Officer, Area Ambulance Authority in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Director, Emergency Medical Services, Munroe Regional Health System in Ocala, Florida; Battalion Chief and EMS Officer, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Aloha, Oregon and Chief, Emergency Medical Service and Systems, Oregon State Health Division in Portland, Oregon.
Kirkwood is a graduate of the University of the State of New York, with a B.S. degree in Biomedical Sciences. He also holds a M.S. degree in Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University and a J. D. with Honors from Rutgers University School of Law. In addition, his is a graduate of University of North Carolina School of Government where he received a Certificate in Municipal and County Administration.
He is affiliated with numerous professional organizations such as the National EMS Management Association where he was on the Board of Directors and served as President in 2011-2012. Kirkwood is also a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and IAFC EMS Section, and the EMS Administrators of North Carolina.
He is scheduled to assume his new duties with Durham County on June 17th.