Keith Smith joins Oldham EMS as new Deputy Director of Operations

By TERRY STOCK
Oldham County EMS Press Release

La Grange — Oldham County EMS is proud to announce Keith Smith will be assuming the position of Deputy Director of Operations effective January 5, 2010, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Mike Heilman in September of this year.  

Keith began his career with Middletown Fire Department in Jefferson County, Kentucky in 1981. He later joined the Kentucky Air National Guard where he advanced through the ranks to be the youngest Assistant Fire Chief in unit history. During his 20-year military career he supervised over 250 people while deployed during Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Upon moving to Oldham County in 1995, he joined the South Oldham Fire Department, where he volunteered for 6 years. For the past 11 years Keith Smith has been a full-time employee of the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services as a Regional EMS advisor and inspector. In this role, he routinely advised ambulance services across the Commonwealth of Kentucky as to State required compliance mandates. Additionally, he assisted ambulance services through the process of conversion from basic to advanced life support systems along with meeting local elected officials to ensure EMS operational knowledge. 

“We are excited to have Keith join our team,” says Oldham County EMS Director Ron Wilder, “he brings a tremendous amount of experience, knowledge, and professionalism to our organization.” This announcement comes at the end of an in-depth screening of both internal and external candidates. “I am proud of the wealth of talent we currently have on staff,” says Director Wilder, “but ultimately, we felt Keith was the best fit for this position.” 

Keith Smith will begin transitioning into his new role on a part-time basis November 30, 2009, and full-time on January 5, 2010. He currently resides in Buckner, Kentucky with his wife, Tammy, and two sons, Tyler and Justin. He is an active member of the community, participating in the PTA, school athletics, and the Boy Scouts of America. He has an Associates of Applied Science Degree and is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Louisville.

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