Rod Barrett of Bentonville, Ark., began his career as an EMT in 1978 and became a paramedic in 1982. He received a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University in 1973, and became an R.N. in 2004. He served with both private and public service models in Little Rock, Ark., and Memphis, Tenn., before joining the Bella Vista Fire/EMS department in 1986. He retired after 25 years with the department. Rod continues in the EMS community as an instructor in several disciplines and as an adjunct instructor for Northwest Arkansas Community College in the College of Health-related Professions, as well as various other agencies.

Rod served on the NAEMT Board, the Arkansas EMT Association Board of Directors for 12 years with three terms as president, and as a member of the Arkansas Governor’s Advisory Committee since 1996. He also serves on the Fire Science Advisory Board and the EMS advisory board for Northwest Arkansas Community College. He was inducted into the Arkansas EMS Hall of Fame in 2014.

Rod has chaired the Disciplinary Process Committee on the current revision of the Arkansas EMS Rules & Regulations and has been active as an adjunct instructor for the Northwest Arkansas Community College in the College of Health Related Professions, and serves on the Fire and EMS advisory boards.