Overview
From daily ambulance responses, to paramedic course curriculum; from telephone pre-arrival instructions, to fleet & equipment maintenance; from Community Paramedic home visits, to marathon start/finish line coverage, the Hennepin EMS Command Staff are responsible for maintaining and growing all aspects of our enterprise.
Chief of Hennepin EMS
With the assistance of the EMS leadership team, Chief Martin Scheerer is responsible for all aspects of the EMS department, while directly overseeing the divisions of Operations and Education.
- Martin ScheererChief of Hennepin EMS
Biography currently not available.
- T. Ryan MayfieldAssistant Chief of EMS
T. Ryan Mayfield has been working across the country in emergency services since 1996. In addition to working as a field provider, he has worked in Education, Operations, QA/QI, EMS research, and management. He holds a B.B.A. from Texas A&M University in Information Systems and an M.S. from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in EMS Administration and Emergency Management.
Assistant Chief
The Assistant Chief directly oversees the divisions of Communications, Special Operations, and Community Programs.
Deputy Chief
Our Deputy Chief team oversees specific divisions of the department.
- Andy JakackiDeputy Chief of Special Operations
- Mary WelchDeputy Chief of Staff
- Daniel KlawitterDeputy Chief of Communications
I have been at HCMC/Hennepin Healthcare almost 24 years. I have been an EMT for 20 plus years. I started in the security department and moved to EMS 14 years ago. I worked my first 11 years in EMS in a dispatcher role, the last 3 as a supervisor. I truly enjoy helping others, especially on their worst days. I try to view everyone I meet as a potential customer/VIP. I enjoy sports and the gym as well as spending time with family, friends, and my pets.
- Kerry DegenDeputy Chief of Education
- Charles Sloan IIIDeputy Chief of Operations
I started my career in EMS in 1996 with a local ambulance service doing wheelchair and BLS transports. I then transitioned to a Dispatcher role, and eventually dispatched for 911, critical care, and helicopter transports. In 2000, I started working with a local air ambulance provider as an EMT, eventually working my way up to Flight Paramedic. Today I am enrolled at Bethel University and continue to work on my Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Development & Leadership. I started working for Hennepin EMS in 2015 and never looked back. I am proud to be associated with such an outstanding team of Leaders, Paramedics and Emergency Medical Dispatchers.
Battalion Chief
The battalion chief serves as the direct report from front-line staff and manages most daily functions of our various divisions.
- Matthew McDonnellBattalion Chief of Operations
Biography currently not available.
- Kent KoellnBattalion Chief of Operations
I started in EMS in 1990 as an EMT on the local ambulance in the small town I grew up in. My parents had served on the fire department and ambulance for many years prior and were Advanced Frist Aid instructors, so it seemed natural to start serving at a young age. Eventually the call of the big city (Hutchinson MN) lured me away. I took An EMT-I course and was hired part time at the Hutchinson Ambulance Service. I became a Paramedic in 1997 and took a full time position.
I was hired here at Hennepin EMS in 2002. During my time at Hennepin EMS I have held the position of HCAPE Chief Paramedic Steward and served on several different committees. I have held my current position as a Battalion Chief of Operations since March of 2018.
- Joshua BeneshBattalion Chief of Communications
- Timothy AlbrechtBattalion Chief of Communications
- Tyler LupkesBattalion Chief of Special Operations
Biography currently not available.
- Mark WanderseeBattalion Chief of Operations
- Rachel WilmesBattalion Chief of Operations
- Riley BertschBattalion Chief of Operations
- Drew KellyBattalion Chief of Operations
Biography currently not available.
- Peter MoneyBattalion Chief of Special Operations
- Kyle KoellnBattalion Chief of Operations
Biography currently not available.
- Jill McCaffertyBattalion Chief of Education