West Virginia Appoints New Commissioner to the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice
Washington, D.C. — 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. 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. His career includes service as Director of Emergency Medical Services for the Roane County Rescue Squad, more than a decade as a Flight Paramedic, Base Educator, and Flight Training Officer with HealthNet Aeromedical Services, and five years as an Administrative Director with the Union 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.”
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 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.
Commissioner Ratliff brings more than 21 years of emergency medical experience to the role. His career includes service as Director of Emergency Medical Services for the Roane County Rescue Squad, more than a decade as a Flight Paramedic, Base Educator, and Flight Training Officer with HealthNet Aeromedical Services, and five years as an Administrative Director with the Union 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.”
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 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.