David Berry
Powhatan
Summary
Dynamic leader with a proven track record in the Fire and EMS sectors, consistently demonstrating a value-driven and mission-focused approach. Achievements include attaining the highest EMS certifications, such as Critical Care Paramedic and Flight Paramedic, reflecting a commitment to excellence in emergency medical services. Expertise in fostering teamwork and enhancing operational efficiency ensures the delivery of high-quality care in critical situations. Passionate about leveraging extensive experience to drive positive outcomes in high-pressure environments.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Career Firefighter/Paramedic
Powhatan Fire and Rescue
Powhatan County, VA
03.2023 - Current
- Skilled in fire suppression, education, prevention, and apparatus maintenance. Respond to emergent and non-emergent calls as an integral team member, collaborating with volunteers and community stakeholders in Powhatan County. Serve as a driver/pump/Aerial operator, establishing initial incident command during various emergencies. Responsible for completing daily, weekly, and monthly station duties, performing advanced-level EMS, and conducting thorough checks of firefighting/EMS equipment and apparatus. Engage in ongoing EMS and fire-related training, ensuring readiness and proficiency in emergency response. Utilize Image Trend reporting for accurate documentation of incidents. Assist with maintaining system operations, responding to low-frequency, high-risk incidents as needed, and assisted with the early stages of the Phoenix G-2 alerting system.
Fire & EMS Captain
Amelia County Fire & EMS
Amelia Court House, VA
12.2024 - 01.2026
- Successfully initiated and developed a comprehensive career combination system from the ground up, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and service delivery. Established an Advanced Life Support (ALS) medication program, ensuring that protocols align with best practices and regulatory standards. Authored detailed ALS protocols that received approval from the agency's medical director, demonstrating a commitment to high-quality patient care. Additionally, crafted and implemented Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) and administrative policies that govern agency operations, fostering clarity and consistency in procedures.
- In my role, I managed daily operations while actively responding to critical emergency calls, where I took on the responsibilities of incident commander. This involved making swift decisions to coordinate effective responses and ensure optimal patient outcomes. Furthermore, I played a vital role in the training and development of newly hired employees, providing them with essential knowledge and skills to excel in their positions and uphold the agency standards.
Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic
Emergency Service Solutions
Powhatan, VA
05.2023 - 12.2024
- Provide ALS/BLS EMS for rural counties in Virginia on a part time basis. Station duties, maintain and cleaning of apparatus, training, paperwork to include detailed patient care reports with the ESO charting platform. Working in a collaborative effort with volunteer fire service members during larger incident. Establishing initial incident command for larger scale incidents while awaiting volunteer personnel to arrive.
Paramedic
Gila Regional Medical Center EMS
Silver City, NM
12.2011 - 02.2023
- Provide ALS/BLS EMS for a advanced ground emergency medical service and long distance transfers at the ALS level for multiple hours. Act as EMS-1 shift supervisor to oversee the system. Perform ALS and Critical Care transports when needed. Station duties, maintain and cleaning of apparatus, training, paperwork to include detailed patient care reports.
Flight Paramedic
Air Methods
Deming, NM
08.2010 - 02.2023
- Providing Care to patients in the Critical Care Setting, base cleaning and clerical duties, perform a preflight checklist prior to each flight, documentation of flight and patient reports, participated in ongoing training, supervised and directed ALS care of career/volunteer ground EMS providers and fire personnel. Perform RSI, chest tube insertions, monitoring of arterial lines and CVP waveforms, administration of many vasoactive medications and blood products. Acted as Clinical Base Supervisor for 7 years overseeing daily base operations and leading 4 registered nurses and 4 paramedics.
Volunteer Firefighter/Medic
Fair Acres Volunteer Fire Department
Dona Ana, NM
11.2010 - 09.2014
- Fire suppression, Education, Prevention, and maintenance of apparatus. Driver/ pump operator, station duties, performed EMS at the advanced level. Daily, weekly, and monthly checks of apparatus. Incident commander at several county incidents and functions. Help provide training to new members and ongoing training for myself. Mentor members with less experience and young in age. Proficient use of NMEMSTARS and NFIRS software to complete reports.
Career Firefighter/Medic
Henrico County Division Of Fire
Henrico County, VA
03.2006 - 03.2009
- Fire suppression, Education, Prevention, and maintenance of apparatus. Driver/ pump operator, station duties, performed EMS at the advanced level, participated in daily physical fitness, helped initiate county- wide training for CPAP, performed initial incident command functions, acted as the lead EMS mentor for the station and shift I served on.
Medic/Crew Chief/ ALS Coordinator
Lakeside Volunteer Rescue Squad
Richmond, VA
11.1999 - 03.2006
- Volunteer Medic and Paid Advance Life Support Provider during daytime hours, station cleaning duties, cleaning of EMS and rescue apparatus, documentation of EMS reports via PPCR and PPDR, Emergency vehicle operator in emergency and non-emergency incidents. Acted as the crew chief and supervised the entire station which could be up to 10 personnel and 4 ambulance crews on any given day. Provided training and precepting to new members of the organization to clear the system.
Career Firefighter/Medic
Colonial Heights Fire and EMS
Colonial Heights, VA
08.2002 - 01.2006
- Fire suppression, prevention, education, and maintenance of apparatus, operator of 2002 100' Pierce Quint, provided EMS at the advanced level, established incident command on several incidents.
Volunteer Firefighter/Medic
County of Henrico Division of Fire
Richmond, VA
06.1999 - 08.2002
- Fire suppression, education, prevention, maintenance of fire apparatus, documentation of EMS reports, station duties, attended monthly meeting and training exercises. Would ride with career personnel and also help staff the mini attack pumper at Station 5 in the Lakeside district.
Automotive Technician
All Tune and Lube
Richmond, VA
03.1994 - 08.2002
- Complete automotive repair service of cars and light duty trucks, brakes, tune-ups, computer diagnostics, state safety inspections, complete replacements of engines and transmissions, and shop maintenance including cleaning.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Fire Administration
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL12-2025
Associate of Applied Science - Fire Science
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL07-2024
Associate of Applied Science - Emergency Medical Services
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL12-2023
Metro Richmond Public Safety Leadership Academy
Henrico, VA03-2023
Paramedicine
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA08-2009
Henrico Fire 51st Career Recruit Academy
Henrico, VA08-2006
Colonial Heights/Petersburg Career Joint Fire Academy
Petersburg, VA01-2003
Henrico Volunteer Fire Academy
Henrico, VA12-2000
Skills
- Strategic management
- Computer skills
- Basic life support
- Hazardous material storage
- Firefighting specialized equipment operation
- EMT experience
- Firefighting
- Team management
- Report writing
- Policy & process development
- Customer service
- Training
- Firefighter training
- Leadership
- Crew management
- Clinic
- Continuous improvement
- Staff supervision
- Firefighting overhaul technique
- Mentoring
- Senior leadership
- Hazardous materials regulations
Accomplishments
- Columbia Southern University Presidents List September 2024, Awarded to students that have achieved academic excellence with a GPA of 4.0 during the semester.
- Life Safe Award April 2024 from Powhatan Fire and Rescue for actions taken during 2 cardiac arrest that contributed to the patient's being discharged from the hospital.
- Distinguished Recognition October 2016 and presented with blue flight wings being the highest honor possible with Air Methods Corporation. Distinguished recognition in which my peers and team mates recommended while being in the position of Clinical Base Supervisor.
- Golden Glove Award ,May 2016 for top performance while leading the Deming NM flight base. This award consisted of many variables and KPI's to include patient care, budgeting, certifications, and leadership. Deming, NM base rated #1 in the entire country out of 400 other bases for the months of January-February 2016 while I was the Clinical Base Supervisor.
- Life Save Award January 2004 For actions of saving a life during cardiac arrest.
Certification
- VDFP Fire Instructor I February 2026
- VAVRS IDC/DICO July 2025
- VDFP-Basic Ariel Operations August 2024
- VDFP Passenger Vehicle Extrication June 2024
- FEMA IS-100 NIMS Refreshed May 2024
- FEMA IS-200 NIMS Refreshed May 2024
- FEMA IS-700 NIMS Refreshed May 2024
- FEMA IS-800 NIMS Refreshed May 2024
- FEMA ICS-300 May 2024
- FEMA ICS-400 May 2024
- FEMA Incident Safety Officer (ISO) March 2024
- National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training January 2024
- FEMA IS 244 Developing and Managing Volunteers January 2024
- FEMA IS 242 Effective Communication January 2024
- FEMA IS 241 Decision Making and Problem Solving January 2024
- FEMA IS 240 Leadership and Influence January 2024
- VDFP Rural Water Supply October 2023
- VDFP Low Angle Rope Operations (NFPA 1006-21) October 2023
- FEMA Strategy and Tactics for Initial Company Officer (STICO) October 2023
- VAEMS Officer I September 2023
- Pro Board Haz-Mat Operations July 2006 to
- Pro Board Firefighter I July 2006
- Pro Board Firefighter II July 2006
- Pro Board LP Gas Emergencies June 2006
- Pro Board Driver/Pump Operator June 2006
- Pro Board Confined Space Awareness May 2006
- Pro Board Trench Rescue Awarness May 2006
- Pro Board May Day Firefighter Down May 2006
- Pro Board Rope Rescue Level I April 2006
- Pro Board EVOC S-3 April 2006
- FEMA IS-195 Basic Incident Command Systems March 2005
- FEMA IS-275: Role of Emergency Operations Center in Community Preparedness, Response, & Recovery March 2005
- FEMA IS-235 Emergency Planning March 2005
- FEMA IS-230 Principles of Emergency Management June 2004
- Certified Critical Care Paramedic (CCP-C)
- Certified Flight Paramedic (FP-C)
- Virginia Paramedic Certification
- Texas State Paramedic
- NREMT-P
- AHA-BLS Instructor for Healthcare Providers
- AHA- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- AHA- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification (PALS)
- NREMT-P
- Texas State Paramedic September 2010 to October 2026
Timeline
Fire & EMS Captain
Amelia County Fire & EMS
12.2024 - 01.2026
Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic
Emergency Service Solutions
05.2023 - 12.2024
Career Firefighter/Paramedic
Powhatan Fire and Rescue
03.2023 - Current
Paramedic
Gila Regional Medical Center EMS
12.2011 - 02.2023
Volunteer Firefighter/Medic
Fair Acres Volunteer Fire Department
11.2010 - 09.2014
Flight Paramedic
Air Methods
08.2010 - 02.2023
Career Firefighter/Medic
Henrico County Division Of Fire
03.2006 - 03.2009
Career Firefighter/Medic
Colonial Heights Fire and EMS
08.2002 - 01.2006
Medic/Crew Chief/ ALS Coordinator
Lakeside Volunteer Rescue Squad
11.1999 - 03.2006
Volunteer Firefighter/Medic
County of Henrico Division of Fire
06.1999 - 08.2002
Automotive Technician
All Tune and Lube
03.1994 - 08.2002
Associate of Applied Science - Fire Science
Columbia Southern University
Associate of Applied Science - Emergency Medical Services
Columbia Southern University
Bachelor of Science - Fire Administration
Columbia Southern University
Metro Richmond Public Safety Leadership Academy
Paramedicine
Virginia Commonwealth University
Henrico Fire 51st Career Recruit Academy
Colonial Heights/Petersburg Career Joint Fire Academy
Henrico Volunteer Fire Academy
Additional Information
In 2024, completed two Associate in Applied Science degree's. One was in Emergency Medical Services and the other in Fire Science. Upon completion, I graduated with a 4.0 GPA in both degrees from Columbia Southern University. In December 2025, completed BS in Fire Administration with honors (Summa Cum Laude) and a final GPA of 4.0.