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Gary Ludwig
Gary Ludwig is recognized as a respected national fire and EMS leader, author, public speaker, and expert who has managed two award-winning metropolitan EMS systems (Memphis and St. Louis) and an ISO Class 1 fire department. He has pioneered many concepts which are now standard practice in fire and EMS systems today. Chief Ludwig has over 45 years of fire, rescue and EMS experience - and over 43 years experience as a paramedic. He currently serves as the fire chief of Champaign, Illinois and was President and Chairman of the Board of the International Association of Fire Chiefs during the 2019-20 term. In 2022, he was appointed by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to the National Advisory Council for FEMA. Chief Ludwig has responded to over 30,000 fire, rescue, and EMS incidents during his 43-year career and has performed at various levels including patient care as a paramedic, firefighting, the incident commander at countless emergency scenes and planned events. |
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Some planned events that he has commanded include two United States Presidential debates, numerous Presidential visits and motorcades, the Papal Visit of John Paul II to St. Louis in 1999, the 1993 Floods of St. Louis, United States Summer Olympic Festival, Super Bowl parades, and several World Series Baseball events.
Chief Ludwig started his career in St. Louis in 1977 at the age of 18. He retired 25 years later as the Chief Paramedic from the St. Louis Fire Department. During his career he rose through the ranks and managed various programs or Bureaus including field operations, support services, the Fire Alarm Communications Center, and the EMS Division. During his management of the EMS Division, the St. Louis Fire Department won the EMS Service of the Year for the State of Missouri in 1998.
Chief Ludwig was also recruited and served as a deputy fire chief on the senior command staff for the Memphis Fire Department (Tennessee) for 10 years. He managed the EMS system and the Emergency Management Office. During his management of the EMS system, the Memphis Fire Department won the Tennessee EMS System of the Year and the Career Fire-based EMS System of the Year from the Congressional Fire Service Institute. The Memphis Fire Department is a 1,987 person fire department, operating from 57 fire stations, a $162.5 million budget, and last year responded on approximately 145,000 alarms. The EMS budget is over $36 million.
He previously served on the EMS Section Executive Board for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) for 22 years, with six years as Chair (2007-2013).
Chief Ludwig has earned a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and a Masters degree in Management and Business from National-Louis University. Additionally, he is a licensed paramedic and a certified firefighter. He serves on numerous boards including the editorial advisory Board for FireRescue1.com and FireChief.com.
Chief Ludwig has authored over 500 articles in such publications as the IAFC’s On Scene, 9-1-1 Magazine, Fire Chief Magazine, Firehouse Magazine, Journal of Emergency Medical Services, EMS Magazine, and National Fire & Rescue. Also, Chief Ludwig is a nationally known and requested speaker and has made over 400 public presentations at conferences or professional seminars at most major fire or EMS conferences.
Awards
2022 International Association of Fire Chiefs - Fire Chief of the Year
2022 International Association of Fire Chiefs - President's Award
2018 James O. Page Achievement Award - International Association of Fire Chiefs
2014 Presidential Award – Tennessee EMS Association
2014 James O Page EMS Leadership Award – National Award
2014 Career Fire-based EMS System of the Year - Awarded by the Congressional Fire Service Institute
2012 Tennessee EMS Service of the Year – Awarded by the Tennessee Ambulance Service Association
1998 Missouri EMS Administrator of the Year - Awarded by the Missouri EMS Association
1998 Missouri EMS Service of the Year - Awarded by the Missouri Emergency Medical Service Association
1996 Mayor's Award - City of St. Louis - Improved Level of Service
1995 Mayor's Award - City of St. Louis - Monetary Savings
1981 Mayor’s Award of Heroism - City of St. Louis
1979 Mayor’s Award of Heroism - City of St. Louis
Chief Ludwig started his career in St. Louis in 1977 at the age of 18. He retired 25 years later as the Chief Paramedic from the St. Louis Fire Department. During his career he rose through the ranks and managed various programs or Bureaus including field operations, support services, the Fire Alarm Communications Center, and the EMS Division. During his management of the EMS Division, the St. Louis Fire Department won the EMS Service of the Year for the State of Missouri in 1998.
Chief Ludwig was also recruited and served as a deputy fire chief on the senior command staff for the Memphis Fire Department (Tennessee) for 10 years. He managed the EMS system and the Emergency Management Office. During his management of the EMS system, the Memphis Fire Department won the Tennessee EMS System of the Year and the Career Fire-based EMS System of the Year from the Congressional Fire Service Institute. The Memphis Fire Department is a 1,987 person fire department, operating from 57 fire stations, a $162.5 million budget, and last year responded on approximately 145,000 alarms. The EMS budget is over $36 million.
He previously served on the EMS Section Executive Board for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) for 22 years, with six years as Chair (2007-2013).
Chief Ludwig has earned a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and a Masters degree in Management and Business from National-Louis University. Additionally, he is a licensed paramedic and a certified firefighter. He serves on numerous boards including the editorial advisory Board for FireRescue1.com and FireChief.com.
Chief Ludwig has authored over 500 articles in such publications as the IAFC’s On Scene, 9-1-1 Magazine, Fire Chief Magazine, Firehouse Magazine, Journal of Emergency Medical Services, EMS Magazine, and National Fire & Rescue. Also, Chief Ludwig is a nationally known and requested speaker and has made over 400 public presentations at conferences or professional seminars at most major fire or EMS conferences.
Awards
2022 International Association of Fire Chiefs - Fire Chief of the Year
2022 International Association of Fire Chiefs - President's Award
2018 James O. Page Achievement Award - International Association of Fire Chiefs
2014 Presidential Award – Tennessee EMS Association
2014 James O Page EMS Leadership Award – National Award
2014 Career Fire-based EMS System of the Year - Awarded by the Congressional Fire Service Institute
2012 Tennessee EMS Service of the Year – Awarded by the Tennessee Ambulance Service Association
1998 Missouri EMS Administrator of the Year - Awarded by the Missouri EMS Association
1998 Missouri EMS Service of the Year - Awarded by the Missouri Emergency Medical Service Association
1996 Mayor's Award - City of St. Louis - Improved Level of Service
1995 Mayor's Award - City of St. Louis - Monetary Savings
1981 Mayor’s Award of Heroism - City of St. Louis
1979 Mayor’s Award of Heroism - City of St. Louis