Kevin Captain confirmed as EMS director

Posted On: May 2, 2023

Volusia County’s ambulance transport system is under new leadership, and Community Information Director Kevin Captain is assuming a new role in county government.

Captain is bringing his extensive medical background in pre-hospital, emergency and trauma care to Volusia County Emergency Medical Services after the County Council unanimously confirmed him on Tuesday as the county’s new EMS director. Captain has been with the county since December 2018, including three years as community information director. Prior to joining county government, Captain was a registered nurse, field EMT and paramedic. His work history in the medical field includes being trauma program manager at Halifax Health, emergency department manager at AdventHealth-Daytona Beach, as well as serving in various emergency care roles in Wisconsin.

Captain has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin and holds a paramedic certificate from Fox Valley Technical College.

As community information director, Captain has been a familiar face and steady presence while piloting the county’s public information and community outreach campaigns during high-profile emergency events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricanes Ian and Nicole.

“Not only is Kevin an excellent communicator, he’s also a very skilled manager,” said County Manager George Recktenwald, who selected Captain for the EMS position. “His leadership style is all about taking ownership and staying engaged. He has definitely transformed our communications program.”

As EMS director, Captain will oversee an ambulance system that handles nearly 80,000 calls and more than 60,000 transports annually. Captain also will manage the system’s $44.2 million budget and supervise more than 250 EMS employees whose priority is to provide optimal pre-hospital emergency medical care, rapid response and transport.

“You are dedicated and have been an essential source of information,” County Chair Jeff Brower told Captain before his confirmation. “You have an unbelievable work ethic, and you have assembled an incredible team that gets our message out to the public.”

Captain replaces former EMS Director Michael Colman, who stepped down in November 2022.

“I am truly honored by this opportunity and the faith and support that the county manager and County Council have placed in me,” said Captain. “I’ll be able to work closer with more of the county’s hard-working professionals who are service-oriented, outcome-driven, and always striving to find better ways. I’m looking forward to fostering a culture based on shared values that keeps the patient at the center of what we do.”

Reporters from the news media may reach out to Community Information Manager Clayton Jackson at 386-473-5260 or cjackson@volusia.org.