The Maryland State Police Aviation Command has selected Sergeant Jonathan Longest as the 2010 Non Commissioned Officer of the Year. Sgt. Longest is assigned to the Medical Operations Section at Aviation Command Headquarters and was selected by his peers for this annual award based on proven performance, dedication and commitment to the mission of the Aviation Command Sergeant Jonathan P. Longest has been a member of the Maryland State Police Aviation Command (MSPAC) for seven years. Sgt. Longest is a senior tenured flight paramedic, the supervisor in charge of the Medical Operations Section, a field training flight paramedic, and currently serves as the MSPAC Chief Flight Paramedic. Sgt. Longest has completed hundreds of medevac missions on behalf on the Aviation Command and the citizens of the Maryland Eastern Shore; all safely and with a positive patient interaction in each case. Sgt Longest has performed numerous search and rescue missions and assisted in the apprehension of many criminals from Agency aircraft
during the performance of his regular duties.

Personal Background
Name: Jonathan P. Longest
Age: 41
Assignment: Chief Flight Paramedic, Medical Operations Section, Aviation Command
Education: 1991, Bachelor of Science, Washington College
Hobbies: Fishing, teaching, home improvements, spending time with his two children
Family: Wife – Jane, children – Kaityln 12, Noah 11
Community Involvement
Jon and his family reside in Salisbury, MD., where he is a very successful EMS instructor with Chesapeake College. Jon assists with coaching his children with boys football and girls lacrosse.
Activities/Accomplishments

Sgt. Longest was assigned to the Aviation Command in April 2003. He has been a Trooper for 8 years and was promoted to Sergeant on February 4, 2010. Sergeant Longest fulfills a leadership position that requires him to be resourceful, well versed and competent in his area of expertise as a flight paramedic. Sergeant Longest demonstrates excellent performance as a Trooper/Flight Paramedic, exhibiting a thorough knowledge of the Maryland Medical Protocols and Aviation Command rules and regulations. Sergeant Longest is well respected by his co-workers, the Command Staff, the MSPAC medical director and the EMS/Fire Rescue community. In 2009 he was appointed by the Commander as the MSPAC Chief Flight Paramedic. During 2010 he managed the MSPAC Medical Operations Section, in charge of three uniform flight paramedic trainers and oversight of didactic, clinical, and mission specific training for all 42 flight paramedics. Sgt. Longest is a highly motivated individual who is willing to help out in all situations and serves as an excellent role model for Command personnel and supervisors.

Sergeant Longest’s appearance and attention to his equipment and general duties is always exemplary. Since his appointment as Chief Flight Paramedic he has taken the initiative to rapidly fulfill the requirements of the job. Sgt. Longest has reformatted the Flight Paramedic recurrent and entry level training process, provided research and development of aircraft diagnostic medical equipment, and has performed as the medical advisor to the MSPAC new aircraft acquisition team for the Augusta Westland AW-139. Sgt. Longest reports direct to the MSPAC Commander in matters related to the Command’s safety program and serves as liaison to all external regulatory and emergency service agencies and serves as the MSPAC clinical Quality Assurance Officer (a mandated position through the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services System). The State Aeromedical Director, Dr. Douglass Floccare, has stated, “Sgt Longest has quickly organized a talented staff to bring the Medical Operations section from an idea to a well-functioning unit in four short months. He has stepped into the newly created role of Chief Flight Paramedic with enthusiasm and dedication, and has sustained the patient-centered focus of the medical quality assurance program”.

In September 2008, Sergeant Longest’s commitment and contributions during the Mishap Investigation Team’s work on the Trooper 2 crash were outstanding. Sgt. Longest served as the Risk Management Flight Paramedic during a chaotic and challenging time. He was thrust into the crash investigation and subjected to extremely challenging conditions (physical and mental), with very long hours on site each day. Sgt. Longest’s work with NTSB representatives regarding survivability, component recognition / location and Command flight operational procedures was extremely valuable. Sergeant Longest was highly effective at the MSP Command Post and helped initiate investigative efforts very early in the process. He was commended for his performance and the sacrifices he and his family made during the crash investigation.
Leadership

Sergeant Longest serves as the Chief Flight Paramedic on the staff of Major Mark E. Gibbons, the leading role and technical expert within the Aviation Command’s 42 flight paramedics. Sgt. Longest attended the 2009 Helicopter Association International Conference in Anaheim, California. During the conference, he staffed a recruitment booth and completed the FAA-approved Safety Management Course. Sgt. Longest also participated with the NTSB Safety Summit hearings in Washington D.C. Sergeant Longest addresses traditional medical and flight safety matters such as performing flight paramedic check rides, monitoring helicopter section medical practices, and Maryland Occupational Safety and Health compliance issues. Sergeant Longest was appointed by the Commander to the Chief Flight Paramedic position because of his strong communication and decision- making skills. In 2010, Sgt. Longest completed all Medical Operations assignments and maintained his flight proficiency requirements at the Salisbury Section where he has been a great asset to the community.

The Maryland State Police Aviation Command has served Maryland citizens since 1970, and operates a fleet of eleven (11) helicopters from seven (7) bases throughout the State on a 24/7/365 basis. Missions include medevac, law enforcement, search & rescue, homeland security, and disaster assessment. The success of missions performed by the Aviation Command depends a great deal on the cooperative effort of local fire, rescue, EMS, and law enforcement agencies.