Cabarrus County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Deputy Chief Justin Brines accomplished a significant milestone, securing the North Carolina EMS Executive Officer credential, an award signifying excellence in leadership and professional development within the state's EMS sector, according to a recent announcement.
With this new credential, Brines joins an elite group, the credentials held by fewer than two dozen professionals across North Carolina, a testament to Brines's dedication and a clear indicator of his professional standing within the state's EMS community; his new credential is born from a rigorous journey of professional growth, top-shelf education in administration, leadership, finance, operations, and policy, as noted by the state EMS Administrators Association.
"This achievement is a testament to Justin's dedication to lifelong learning and his 31 years of service in public safety," said EMS Chief Jimmy Lentz as per the announcement. Brines's career path is a true climb through the ranks, starting humbly at the age of 16 as a volunteer with Odell Fire Department and progressing through roles such as an EMT from 1996, then joining Cabarrus County on a part-time basis and eventually going full-time in 2000 before scaling up to be a paramedic, crew chief, field training officer, lieutenant, captain and finally the deputy chief, not to mention his commitment to academia where he has been shaping minds for over two decades as an instructor at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, according to his career timeline.
Beyond the credential, Brines's expertise is also backed by robust academic qualifications which include master's degrees in health sciences and a bachelor's degree in emergency and disaster management; he also maintains his state and national paramedic credentials.
