By Jamie Strickland
People who have been around Johnston County for a long time may remember when each community was responsible for its own Emergency Medical Services. Over the years and with careful direction, those systems have merged to create a state of the art county wide program.
Although he’ll be the first to tell you that he didn’t do it alone, one local man was a consistent force behind its development.
A native of Pine Level, Josh Holloman started as a cadet in the Selma EMS program at the age of 15. He went on to become a paramedic at the age of 19 and began working full time with what was then Clayton Area EMS and part time with the Clayton Fire Department.
Bringing his medical skills into the fire service, he taught that department’s first EMT class and helped develop the first responder program there.
That became the story of Holloman’s career — with each new promotion, he used his knowledge, experience and skills to teach others, to lead and to organize a system that made things better for everyone.
“For me, it’s been a true honor to be able to serve,” he said. “I really didn’t have any ideas of doing anything other than being a paramedic. That’s the job I wanted, I loved riding the truck, I love that job. But, I saw opportunities to make things better and each time I promoted that was what it was about.”
In 2008 when the first local departments began to merge to form Johnston County EMS, Holloman signed on as the county’s first training officer and in 2011 he became the EMS Chief.
As he was promoted through the ranks up to his current position of Deputy Director of Emergency Services, for Holloman, helping people was at the center of it all.
“It all goes back to helping people. Knowing how important and how tough the job as a paramedic is, in my job today it’s my goal to do everything I can so that when that paramedic is out there all they have to do is take care of the patient in front of them. They don’t have to worry about if the truck is going to start or if the equipment is going to work…all of those things are taken care of so they can just take care of the person.”
Over the years as other community agencies joined the countywide program, its structure and leadership needs have evolved. Holloman was there every step of the way, helping shape medical protocols, fostering a culture of professionalism and compassion, and building a program that has become a model for communities across the region.
Starting out with just 38 employees, the size of the agency has doubled, then tripled and continued to grow all the way up to its current size of more than 320 on staff.
As Johnston County has grown, so too have the demands placed on its emergency services system.
“Managing EMS, you’ve got to be able to keep up with the growth, because growth is obviously going to bring call volume,” he said. “The more people you have, the more emergencies are going to occur. Fortunately, here, we’ve always had the support to be able to respond to the growth and prepare for the growth.”
As Deputy Director he now oversees the Emergency Management, Fire Marshal and EMS divisions and has seen call volume increase from about 10,000 calls per year to now more than 40,000.
Although he doesn’t get out in the field as much as he used to, Holloman maintains his paramedic credentials and it’s not unusual for him to show up on the scene of a medical emergency and offer to help.
That hands-on commitment extends beyond patient care, as he’s remained deeply invested in developing the next generation of emergency responders.
The cadet program played a major role in shaping Holloman’s career and fostering his passion for EMS. As he moved into leadership positions, ensuring those same opportunities remained available to future generations became a priority.
Today, Johnston County’s countywide cadet program is one of the things he is most proud of. While many cadet programs exist only at the community level, Johnston County has maintained one across its entire EMS system, giving young people a chance to explore the profession and develop the skills that could lead to a lifelong career in emergency services.
Other points of pride for Holloman include the development of the Johnston County EMS Hall of Fame, the Community Paramedic program which assists with preventative care to reduce the need for emergency calls, and an opioid use prevention program that has contributed to a reduction in overdose deaths in Johnston County over the past two years.
“When I look back over my years with the county, I had such a great opportunity to help build the system, and when I look at programs like that and the impact they’ve had, that really just makes me very very proud. I was a small piece of it, but being able to help coordinate and help make it happen, that’s been really fulfilling.”
Holloman is currently serving a two year term as chair of the North Carolina Association of EMS Administrators.
“I think I’ve really been able to help other places based on the success we’ve had here in Johnston County and that’s been a huge honor,” he said. “I love Johnston County, I love North Carolina and to be able to go around and do that has been really fulfilling.”
At the heart of his motivation for all of it is his family.
“The most important thing to me are my two boys — inspiring them and helping them grow into good men,” he said.
Holloman has spent his life so far serving, training, coordinating and improving the system for others — and that’s why he is a most deserving recipient of this year’s Public Safety Hero Award.
