Download a PDF of this Press Release
West Virginia
WASHINGTON, DC (13 JULY 2026)— The Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice today announced the appointment of Joseph “Jody” Ratliff, BA, FP-C, as West Virginia’s Commissioner to the United States EMS Compact. Commissioner Ratliff was officially recognized and seated by the Commission on July 13, 2026. Ratliff currently serves as Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services for the West Virginia Department of Health, a position he has held since May 2022.
Commissioner Ratliff brings more than 21 years of emergency medical experience to the role. He began his EMS career in southern West Virginia as a CPR driver, progressing to EMT-Basic, paramedic, and ultimately West Virginia critical care transport paramedic. He served in multiple roles, including training officer and critical care coordinator, before transitioning to flight paramedic, spending nearly 12 years in the air as a Flight Paramedic, Base Educator, and Flight Training Officer with HealthNet Aeromedical Services while continuing to work on the ground. His career also includes five years as an Administrative Director with the Union Rescue Squad and, beginning in 2019, service as agency director of the Roane County Rescue Squad. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia State University and is a certified Flight Paramedic. Prior to his EMS career, he served as an Aviation Boatswain Handler and in Crash Salvage and Rescue in the U.S. Navy.
In his role as Director of the West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services, Commissioner Ratliff serves as the state’s designated representative to the Commission. His on-the-ground experience leading a state EMS system, combined with his clinical background, gives him a direct understanding of the workforce challenges and opportunities the Compact is designed to address.
“We are pleased to welcome Commissioner Ratliff to the United States EMS Compact Commission,” said Kraig Kinney, JD, NRP, Chair of the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice. “His deep operational and regulatory background, combined with his firsthand experience leading West Virginia’s EMS system, makes him a strong addition to the Commission. We look forward to his contributions to advancing interstate EMS practice and protecting the public.”
Recognizing Commissioner David “Jamie” Weller
The Commission also recognizes the outstanding contributions of David “Jamie” Weller, West Virginia’s inaugural EMS Compact Commissioner. Commissioner Weller played a pivotal role in establishing West Virginia as a Participating State, building the foundational relationships and regulatory infrastructure that enabled the Compact to take root in the state. His dedication and leadership have left a lasting mark on both West Virginia’s EMS system and the broader national compact enterprise. The Commission is grateful for his years of service and wishes him well.
West Virginia and the EMS Compact
West Virginia enacted the Recognition of EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA) on March 5, 2020, becoming the 19th state to join the EMS Compact. The Compact authorizes interstate EMS practice and the Privilege to Practice across Participating States, supporting workforce mobility, disaster response coordination, and multistate regulatory collaboration.
For more information about the EMS Compact, Participating States, or to validate an EMS clinician’s Privilege to Practice, please visit www.emscompact.gov.
###
About the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice
The Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice is the governmental authority in the United States responsible for coordinating, regulating, and overseeing the interstate practice of Emergency Medical Services. Established by the Recognition of EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA) legislation, the Commission is composed of appointed Commissioners from each Compact Participating State and is vested with the authority to enforce compliance, administer national operations, resolve multistate regulatory and disciplinary issues, operate the National EMS Coordinated Database, and facilitate immediate license recognition and the Privilege to Practice across state lines. The EMS Compact has been enacted as law in 28 states. Of those, 25 states have fully implemented the Compact with active Privilege to Practice recognition, enabling more than 450,000 EMS clinicians to deliver care wherever and whenever needed—supporting routine operations, surge staffing, disaster response, recruitment and retention, and the demands of a modern, mobile workforce. The remaining three states are in implementation. The Commission safeguards public protection, enhances national preparedness, and stands as the definitive model for multistate licensure in healthcare.
The EMS Compact is law in the following states:
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Georgia • Idaho • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Louisiana • Mississippi • Missouri • Nebraska • Nevada • North Dakota • Oklahoma • Pennsylvania • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Virginia • West Virginia • Wyoming
