COMMAND

Bob Luddy has lived in the Dripping Springs area with his wife and children since 2015. Born in Southern California, Bob has made a career out of pre-hospital EMS and rescue. He received EMT-B certification in 1995 as a teenager and paramedic certification in 1998. He worked full time in EMS from mid-1995 to 2022, with the vast majority of his career being served on an ambulance. In 1998 Bob re-located to Austin to accept a position as a paramedic with the city of Austin. In 1999 Bob was accepted to the EMS Special Operations team and began training in many aspects of technical and water rescue. In addition to typical paramedic work, he has experience as a Field Training Officer, a Rescue Training Officer and member of the Honor Guard, and has held instructor certifications in CPR, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support, Basic Trauma Life Support, and Advanced Trauma Life Support. Bob was a member of Texas Task Force 1 USAR team from 2001 to 2021 where he served as a Swift-water Rescue Specialist, Swift-water Boat Operator, Helicopter Search and Rescue Technician and Water Rescue Squad Leader. Bob is a licensed EMS educator, a certified flight paramedic and has held certifications as a Critical Care Paramedic. Bob served the last three years of his tenure with the City of Austin as the Special Operations Training Captain for Austin-Travis County EMS. Bob Retired from ATCEMS December 31, 2021. In addition to his career in EMS, Bob was appointed as ESD Commissioner for North Hays County ESD1 in early 2019: he served on the board of directors until October 2023.

Jim Swisher is a distinguished leader in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with over three decades of experience spanning executive management, public service, and emergency response. His career trajectory includes serving as Deputy Chief of Operations at San Marcos Hays County EMS from 2015 to 2024, where he demonstrated exceptional skill in managing complex emergency situations and fostering collaborative relationships with stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions. During his tenure, he played pivotal roles in numerous critical incidents, including the Memorial Day flood of 2015, Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and the COVID-19 response, where he served as the medical division director for Hays County testing and vaccine operations.

His earlier career included valuable service with Austin/Travis County EMS from 1989 to 1997, where he progressed from EMT to Acting District Commander and established himself as a department leader in Critical Incident Stress Management. This diverse background has equipped him with a unique perspective on both emergency services and business operations.

Swisher's commitment to professional development is evidenced by his extensive certifications and training, including completion of the National Fire Academy's Management of EMS program, certification as a Planning Section Chief, and maintaining both Private and Remote Pilot licenses. His expertise extends to specialized areas such as Medical Incident Support Team operations and Ambulance Strike Team leadership, making him a versatile and highly qualified emergency services professional. He has consistently demonstrated his dedication to education by serving as an instructor for various programs and maintaining faculty status with organizations such as NAEMT.

Beyond his professional achievements, Swisher maintains strong ties to his community through volunteer work with organizations such as the Civil Air Patrol, where he serves as a Mission Pilot and Health Officer. As a founding president of the Central Texas Critical Incident Stress Management Team and a BSA Scoutmaster, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public service and mentorship. When not serving his community, he pursues his passion for aviation through recreational piloting and aircraft maintenance, along with enjoying outdoor activities with family and friends.

Sean Vajgrt has a comprehensive background in emergency medical services and a strong foundation in data analytics and business management, Vajgrt brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and technological acumen to his role. His educational pursuits reflect this dual focus, as he is currently pursuing an accelerated Data Management/Data Analytics program at Western Governor's University while holding an Associate's in Business Administration and having completed substantial coursework toward a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Texas State University's McCoy School of Business.

In his last 10 years as EMS Operations Captain at San Marcos Hays County EMS, Vajgrt demonstrated exemplary leadership through his oversight of medical staff, management of mass casualty incidents, and supervision of daily operations. His role extended beyond traditional EMS responsibilities, encompassing crucial administrative functions such as training coordination, continuing education management, and quality assurance.

Vajgrt's professional credentials are extensive, including certification as a National Registry EMT-P and Texas Department of State Health Services EMT-P/EMS Instructor. His technical proficiency is evidenced by his CompTIA IT Operations Specialist certifications and ITIL Foundation IT Service Management qualification. As a course instructor for various emergency medical programs, including Emergency Vehicle Driver Operations and multiple American Heart Association and NAEMT courses, he demonstrates his commitment to advancing the field through education. His comprehensive training priorities framework showcases his systematic approach to professional development, encompassing everything from state requirements to performance improvement plans and quality assurance standards.

Katherine Remick, M.D., FAAP, FACEP, FAEMS, leads quality, innovation and outreach strategy in the Department of Pediatrics at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin. She is also co-director of the National EMS for Children Innovation and Improvement Center, medical director for San Marcos/Hays County EMS System, co-director of the National Pediatric Readiness Project and a core member of the Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Steering Committee.

Both a pediatric emergency medicine and EMS physician, she is the lead author on the national joint policy statement “Pediatric Readiness in the Emergency Department” and co-author of the joint policy statement “Pediatric Readiness in EMS Systems.” She works collaboratively with national stakeholders and their respective organizations to develop a strategic plan and coordinate national efforts focused on pediatric readiness in emergency care systems.

Using quality improvement science as an underpinning of her work, Remick has led numerous large-scale national quality improvement collaboratives. She is the medical director for the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians’ Emergency Pediatric Care course and a member of the governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council Medical Director’s Committee. She has lectured across the United States and internationally on a variety of topics related to pediatric emergency care, prehospital care and quality improvement efforts.

Remick is triple board-certified in pediatrics, pediatric emergency medicine and emergency medical services. Her primary focus is system-level readiness to support delivery of high-quality emergency care to children across the health care continuum.