Kevin Knussman was one of the original five advanced life support providers in the pilot program sponsored by the Easton Volunteer Fire Department. He chaired the local task force within Talbot’s volunteer fire and rescue association which gave birth to the first dedicated county-wide advanced life support (ALS) program on the Eastern Shore. He eventually became president of the Talbot County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association which was important is gaining support for the fledgling paramedic program.
The ALS program became part of the Talbot County Department of Emergency Services, now operating paramedic staffed ambulances strategically placed throughout the county. Kevin’s vision and passion has been a county-wide EMS program operated by the county government for the people of Talbot County. The program’s ALS providers were recognized by the state EMS agency with a “Certificate of Outstanding Contribution for creation of a system of advanced pre-hospital medical care on the upper Eastern Shore where none had previously existed.”
Kevin is currently retired in Florida where he stays active in a variety of sports including softball and basketball. He had a 23-year career with the Maryland State Police. For most of his time with MSP he was assigned to the Aviation Division as a flight paramedic/trooper and was selected to open the local MSP medevac helicopter “Trooper 6” in 1985. He has a BA degree in political science from Salisbury University and is a also a graduate of Chesapeake College.
Kevin not only worked as a paramedic in Talbot, but also worked for 15 years for the Caroline County Department of Emergency Services, where he retired in 2017. He spend the last three years of his EMS career at Kent County (Maryland) EMS.
Kevin role on the Talbot Paramedic Foundation has been to encourage financial stability which permits a full range of activities to support a great EMS system for Talbot County. He does most of the press releases for TPF.