Clinton, Miss. — The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) is pleased to announce the 2025 EMS Advocate of the Year Award recipients. Sponsored this year by Demers-Braun-Crestline-Medix, Solutions Group, and Stryker, the awards recognize EMS professionals whose volunteer efforts advance EMS through educating and engaging elected government leaders, EMS and healthcare communities, and the public. NAEMT congratulates these advocates and commends them for their tremendous efforts to advance EMS care. The awards will be presented on April 2 during EMS On The Hill Day, the largest national advocacy event for the EMS profession. 

Justin P. Duncan, BS, NRP, CCEMT-P, FP-C (Missouri)
Chief Duncan is the President of the Missouri EMS Association and influential to advancing mobile healthcare across the state. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Washington County Ambulance District, a regional mobile healthcare provider in rural Missouri. He is a leader in state and national EMS initiatives and chairs the Missouri State Advisory Council's EMS Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) Sub-Committee and the NAEMT Economics Committee. Chief Duncan is a subject matter expert for the National Rural Healthcare Association’s Government Affairs Committee. He has a reputation of being a disruptor in EMS and healthcare and is dedicated to advocating for change and innovation within the industry. Above all, he is a servant leader, fiercely committed to supporting those on the front lines who care for the ill and injured. 

James Mazza, MA, NJEMT (New Jersey)
An EMS innovator, Mazza prioritizes advocacy and mentors others to ensure they understand the importance of speaking on behalf of the EMS profession as well as their agency. Mazza is the Chief of Montclair Ambulance Unit and has worked in EMS for 18 years, progressing from a street-level practitioner to various supervisory positions including assistant chief of a combination paid/volunteer department. He entered EMS as a steppingstone into a career in law enforcement, but once in EMS, his passion was ignited and became his life’s calling. Mazza grew up in New Jersey and has worked on behalf of the local community in a variety of industries while advancing his EMS career. He has a BA in Political Science with a minor in Diplomacy and International Relations and a MA in Emergency Management & Disaster Planning. Most recently he was honored as the 2024 Prehospital Administrator of the Year by the New Jersey Department of Health's Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Cecilia Ogle, AAS, NR-P (Tennessee)
Ogle is a Paramedic with 16 years of experience, and has dedicated her career to public safety, education, and advocacy. Starting as a volunteer firefighter and rescue squad member, she recognized the importance of education in public safety and transitioned into teaching. She advocates for improved EMS training, resources, and community outreach, pushing for greater support at local, state, and federal levels. Ogle’s work as an educator, paramedic, and advocate continues to have a profound effect on Sevier County and the EMS community. She demonstrates the power of effective advocacy, inspires peers to act, and sets a standard for leadership and collaboration that benefits the entire EMS community. Through her commitment to teaching life-saving skills, mentoring future EMS professionals, and advocating for better education and resources, she has helped create a safer, more educated community.

Nominations for this award are evaluated on the extent to which the nominee effectively advocates for the passage of EMS legislation by:

• Educating elected government leaders at the local, state or federal levels on the components of the legislation and how it supports the ability of EMS to provide quality patient care.
• Building strong relationships with the elected officials and their staff who have influence over the passage of EMS legislation.
• Educating fellow EMS professionals about EMS legislation; how the legislation would impact the ability of EMS to provide quality patient care; the importance of advocating for the legislation; and how to effectively advocate.
• Engaging members of the EMS profession in advocacy activities in support of the legislation.