Ken Bouvier
Administrative Liaison

Ken Bouvier currently serves as the Administrative Liaison for New Orleans Emergency Medical Services. In this capacity Ken uses his experience and leadership spanning three decades, he offers administrative assistance to EMS Director Dr. Jullette Saussy and Acting Deputy Director Carl Flores. As a component of the Administrative Liaison role, Mr. Bouvier serves as the EMS Incident Commander for many annual New Orleans events, such as Mardi Gras.

Mr. Bouvier began his EMS career with the Westwego Volunteer Fire Department in 1974 after completing an eight hour ‘Advanced Ambulance Course’ taught by the Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons as well as the eight hour American Red Cross First Aid Course. Ken earned his EMT-Basic certification in 1979 at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and rapidly progressed through several regional area providers, honing his skills. His leadership skills also began to emerge, as he helped start a private ambulance company in 1980 called Gulf States EMS, (which later became Medic One) and where he worked until 1988. Concurrent with working for several regional EMS providers, Mr. Bouvier earned his EMT-Intermediate certification in 1987 from Jo Ellen Smith Hospital. Hired as a part-time employee by New Orleans Health Department EMS Division in 1989, Mr. Bouvier then earned his EMT-Paramedic certification in 2001. He joined the New Orleans EMS Administrative Staff in 2004, and he was appointed to Administrative Liaison in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina.

In addition to his medical certifications, Mr. Bouvier has an extensive educational background in emergency response. He holds several certifications from Louisiana State University, Texas A&M University, Florida State Fire College and the National Fire Academy. In addition to these endeavors, he served as the President of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) from 2004 – 2006 and presently serves as a Director at Large. He is an active member of the New Orleans River Region Emergency Medical Technician Association, Louisiana Association of Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technicians, Arkansas Emergency Medical Technician Association, Westwego Volunteer Fire Department (Life-Member), Louisiana Firemen’s Association (Life-Member), Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association (Life-Member) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Mr. Bouvier also has received recognition for his decades of exemplary service. In 1989, he received the Robert E. Motley NAEMT EMT of the Year Award, and then in 2008, he received the prestigious Rocco V. Morando Lifetime Achievement Award. He is recognized both nationally and internationally by United Who’s Who as a professional speaker in the EMS profession.

Mr. Bouvier has utilized his diverse experience – which include such major incidents as the 1976 Luling Ferry Disaster, the 1977 Continental grain elevator explosion, 1982 Kenner plane crash, the 1988 Cabildo fire, 1993 Fair Grounds fire, and the 1996 Bright Field collision – to contribute to educational opportunities around the country. He serves on the Advisory Board of EMS Magazine and has written many articles for EMS & Fire Service publications. He is best known for his lectures on Hazardous Materials, Gun Violence, “Tricks of the Trade”, and America’s School Shootings. He has made written contributions in 11 EMS textbooks and is the author of several video training tapes.

Ken is married to his high school sweetheart Debbie and has two daughters, Kristen & Kimberly.