Leadership & Governance

Donnie Woodyard, Jr. MAML, NRP

Donnie Woodyard, Jr. serves as the Executive Director of the United States EMS Compact, bringing more than three decades of leadership experience in EMS operations, regulation, and system design. His career spans state, national, and international roles, reflecting a lifelong commitment to advancing the EMS profession through policy innovation and intergovernmental collaboration.

Donnie has served as State EMS Director in two states and as Chief Operating Officer of the National Registry of EMTs, leading major initiatives in national EMS standards and technology. As one of the architects of the EMS Compact's operationalization, he represented Colorado as a Commissioner, later serving as Vice Chair and Chair of the Executive Committee.

His decade of international EMS development includes establishing sustainable emergency care and trauma systems in post-disaster and conflict regions. A graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School's Executive Leaders Program and holder of a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership, Donnie is currently pursuing dual doctoral degrees—a Doctorate in Law and Policy focused on the role of interstate compacts in national security, and a Doctor of Healthcare Administration. He also holds a Certificate in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare from Harvard Medical School.

With a career rooted in both field EMS experience and administrative excellence, Donnie continues to shape national EMS policy with a vision grounded in clinician empowerment, professional accountability, and public safety.

Doug Wolfberg JD

Doug Wolfberg, JD is a founding partner of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth (PWW), widely recognized as the nation's leading EMS law firm. He has dedicated more than four decades to the advancement of EMS law, policy, and education, and has been an active EMS clinician, educator, and advocate since 1978.

Doug's career includes service as a county and regional EMS director, work at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on federal EMS and trauma policy, and legal practice as a healthcare attorney before co-founding PWW in 2000. He is admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania and New York, and to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition to his legal practice, Doug teaches EMS law at the University of Pittsburgh and health law at Widener University School of Law, where he also serves on the Board of Overseers.

He is a prolific author and speaker, known for his engaging presentations and deep expertise in EMS regulation, compliance, and governance. Doug serves as legal counsel to the United States EMS Compact, providing guidance on administrative, regulatory, and statutory matters.

Christie M. Mellott JD

Christie Mellott, JD is Of Counsel with Page, Wolfberg & Wirth and serves as Compact Counsel specializing in Medicare enrollment, administrative law, and healthcare compliance. She joined PWW shortly after its founding in 2000 and advises EMS agencies nationwide on operational, legal, and employment issues.

Before entering law, Christie worked in healthcare for a decade, including in clinical and administrative roles. During law school, she served as assistant editor of the Environmental Law and Technology Journal and interned for Pennsylvania's Office of General Counsel. She has since served in legal roles with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and private healthcare law firms.

Christie frequently presents at national and state EMS conferences and is a contributing author to numerous EMS and public safety publications. Her expertise in regulatory compliance and provider enrollment supports the Compact's legal framework and assists Member States in navigating administrative procedures.