Guilford County has tapped one of its own to help lead its emergency medical system, promoting longtime employee Jeff Hutchens to deputy director of Emergency Services following what officials described as a nationwide search.

According to Guilford County Emergency Services, Hutchens will oversee operations of the county’s EMS system in his new role, which he is scheduled to begin on Sunday, April 5.

County officials said the selection process ultimately reinforced a conclusion many inside the agency had already reached: The strongest candidate for the job was already on staff.

Hutchens brings more than two decades of experience within Guilford County Emergency Services, having joined the agency in 2003 as an emergency medical technician. Over the years, he’s steadily moved up through the ranks, serving as a paramedic, field trainer, captain and shift commander.

Most recently, Hutchens worked as Emergency Services Manager for Technology and Informatics, where his responsibilities included research, data-driven decision-making, application management and project implementation.

In that role, he also helped lead the launch of a countywide fire records management system.

His background reflects a blend of hands-on emergency response and administrative leadership – a combination that county officials say will serve him well in overseeing EMS operations.

During his tenure with the county, Hutchens has received multiple honors, including two Director’s Awards and several Technical Rescue Awards. He’s also a graduate of the Guilford EMS Paramedic Academy.

Beyond his core responsibilities, Hutchens has taken on a number of specialized and leadership roles within the emergency services system. He previously served on the Guilford EMS Bicycle Emergency Response Team and currently acts as the chair of the EMS Users’ Group.

He also serves as system administrator for the county’s 800 MHz radio system, a critical component of emergency communications.

His experience extends outside of Guilford County Emergency Services as well: Hutchens has served as a firefighter with both the Clemmons and Oak Ridge fire departments and has worked as a telecommunicator with Guilford Metro 911.

 County officials said that that cross-agency experience should help strengthen coordination across the region’s emergency response network.

Hutchens holds a bachelor’s degree in emergency medical care with a concentration in health management from Western Carolina University. He also recently earned a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in information technology management from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

In addition, he’s certified as a North Carolina Office of EMS Level 1 Paramedic Instructor and as an instructor in both emergency medical and fire dispatch through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch.

Guilford County Emergency Services Director Jim Albright state in a press release announcing the news that the national search only confirmed what many inside the department already believed.

“Jeff is a dedicated public servant whose depth of knowledge and enduring commitment to this agency and this community are unmatched,” Albright said. “We are proud to name him to this role and confident in the future he will help us build.”

With the promotion, Hutchens will take on a key leadership role at a time when emergency services systems across the country continue to face increasing demand, staffing challenges and growing reliance on technology and data.

County officials expressed confidence that his combination of field experience, technical expertise – and long-standing ties to the local emergency services community – will position him well as he steps into the job.

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