“For over three decades, Rob has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the EMS industry,” said Deb Cason, Immediate Past Chair of the National Registry Board of Directors. “His work with the National Registry helped advance our mission to maintain the integrity of the EMS profession, and we are proud to recognize his contributions as he continues to promote safe EMS practices and improve patient care.”

Wagoner has dedicated his entire professional life to the improvement of EMS with many impactful contributions. After beginning his career as a paramedic and EMS educator, he joined the National Registry in 1987 as the advanced level certification coordinator and worked his way up to chief operating officer, where he served until 2017. During his time at the National Registry, Wagoner played an integral role in the development and maturation of safe EMS practices, specifically in the areas of cognitive and psychomotor testing through national certification.

As an industry leader, Wagoner has taught educators, state officials, and EMS providers to strive for better patient care, and worked with EMS regulatory systems to ensure that fair standards of care were met. Wagoner has consistently advocated for evidence-based changes for clinical care and supported research that verifies these changes, and his leadership and selfless giving of his time, talent, and expertise has advanced EMS as a profession.

“Rob Wagoner’s dedication to improving the education and training of EMS practitioners through his work at NREMT is greatly appreciated,” said NAEMT President Dennis Rowe. “His life-long commitment to quality EMS patient care was recognized as the 2017 recipient of the Rocco V. Morando Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Named after the inaugural recipient and founding NAEMT member, Rocco V. Morando, the Lifetime Achievement Award was first presented 30 years ago in Mississippi, honoring significant contributions made by EMS professionals in the forms of advancement, leadership and education.

About the National Registry
Since its founding in 1970, the National Registry of EMTs (National Registry) has offered the nation assurance that the men and women providing emergency treatment in the out-of-hospital setting are capable of providing the care that patients and their loved ones deserve. As the Nation’s EMS Certification organization, the National Registry provides psychometrically-valid proof of entry-level competence for Nationally Certified EMS personnel through rigorous cognitive and psychomotor examinations. National EMS Certification is offered at four levels and must be maintained biennially by demonstrating continued education and skills competence. To date, the National Registry has certified more than 1.8 million EMS professionals. To learn more about the National Registry please visit www.nremt.org.

About NAEMT
Formed in 1975 and more than 65,000 members strong, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians is the only national association representing the professional interests of all emergency and mobile healthcare practitioners, including emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, emergency medical responders, paramedics, advanced practice paramedics, critical care paramedics, flight paramedics, community paramedics, and mobile integrated healthcare practitioners. NAEMT members work in all sectors of EMS, including government agencies, fire departments, hospital-based ambulance services, private companies, industrial and special operations settings, and in the military.

Rob Wagoner honored with Rocco V. Morando Award

Media Contact:

Shane Cartmill
Communications & Marketing Manager
scartmill@nremt.org