The Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice, the governmental commission responsible for the implementation and operation of the United States EMS Compact, announced the appointment of Michael Johnson, MS, NRP, Commissioner for the State of Georgia, to the Commission’s Executive Committee.
Commissioner Johnson was appointed to fill the Executive Committee position recently vacated by Aaron Koehler (WY). The appointment fills the remainder of the current term in accordance with the Compact’s governing bylaws and ensures continuity of leadership for the Commission’s day-to-day operations.
Michael Johnson serves as Director of the Georgia Office of EMS and Trauma at the Georgia Department of Public Health. He is a member of the National Association of State EMS Officials and has served as Georgia’s appointed Commissioner to the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice. Previously, Commissioner Johnson held leadership roles as Deputy Director for Systems of Care and Director of the Office of Cardiac Care, where he led the designation of Georgia’s first 41 Emergency Cardiac Care Centers and helped establish a sustainable statewide cardiac care system.
Prior to his service with the Georgia Department of Public Health, Commissioner Johnson taught EMS and emergency management at the university and college levels and served as Program Director for EMS education programs in both Alabama and Georgia. He also spent seven years as a CBRNE subject matter expert consultant supporting FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. Beginning his EMS career in 1995, he has maintained a longstanding commitment to improving EMS system performance and expanding access to care in rural and underserved communities.
The Executive Committee is responsible for managing the affairs of the Interstate Commission between meetings of the full Commission, providing operational oversight, strategic direction, and continuity of governance. Under the Compact statute, each member state’s governor appoints a commissioner to represent the state on the Interstate Commission.
“Commissioner Johnson brings deep operational, regulatory, and systems-of-care experience to the Executive Committee. His background in statewide system development and emergency preparedness will strengthen the Commission’s ability to support a safe, mobile, and resilient EMS workforce.”
Commission Chair Kraig Kinney (IN)
“Leadership continuity matters for a national regulatory body operating across state lines. Commissioner Johnson’s appointment ensures experienced oversight during a critical period of growth for the United States EMS Compact and reinforces our commitment to public protection, accountability, and interstate collaboration.”
Executive Director Donnie Woodyard, MAML, NRP
Today, 25 states participate in the United States EMS Compact, enabling more than 450,000 EMS clinicians to practice across Compact member states using their active, unrestricted home-state license. This interstate licensure model strengthens emergency preparedness, supports workforce mobility, and enhances patient access to timely emergency medical care nationwide.
For more information about the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice and the United States EMS Compact, visit the Commission’s official website.