J. Paul Davis, Paramedic, & Director, Department of Emergency Services (Chief of EMS – MED-ACT)

Paul Davis has been serving in EMS and public safety since 1986, beginning his journey on a volunteer rescue squad that specialized in crash and technical rescue. Over the years, he spent nearly 25 years as a rural EMS provider in northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois before stepping into leadership roles. Since 2006, Paul has served as Chief of the Department—first in Adams County, Illinois, and later in Johnson County, Kansas, where he has led the department since 2017.

Paul’s early interest in EMS was sparked by the TV show EMERGENCY! and solidified by his experiences growing up in a small town without EMS services. Long before his formal EMS career, he and his youth group took CPR and first aid courses, self-dispatching to emergencies to fill the long response gap before ambulances arrived. He indicated that they responded to “scanner” calls and freelanced.

Today, Paul is deeply involved in KEMSA, where he serves as a board member and contributes to the legislative affairs, bylaws and policy, and scholarship committees. His dedication to KEMSA stems from his belief that professional association involvement is critical for amplifying the voices of EMS departments and personnel. He sees the association as a key player in creating a collaborative network that can drive legislative and regulatory improvements.

Paul also values KEMSA’s role as a statewide advocate for EMS providers, emphasizing the organization’s national recognition and strong presence in the statehouse and among U.S. lawmakers. He appreciates how KEMSA’s education programs, particularly the annual and core conferences, provide meaningful opportunities for continuing education and professional development.

While Paul prefers to share more personal details in conversation, his career and leadership clearly reflect a lifelong passion for public safety and advancing the EMS profession.