The Shreveport Fire Department’s own Fire Engineer Austin Tull has been named the Paramedic of the Year by the Louisiana Association of Nationally Registered EMTs.
The following is what Shreveport Fire Department Medical Director Dr. David Ralph Janese, MD, MS, NREMT-P wrote about Engineer Tull in support of his nomination.
“It is with great pride and unwavering conviction that I submit this letter of support for Austin Tull as a nominee for the Paramedic of the Year Award from the Louisiana Association of Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technicians. Austin embodies the highest ideals of EMS—clinical excellence, courage under pressure, selfless leadership, and tireless dedication to the communities he serves.”
Dr. Janese went on to say that “Austin has served the people of Louisiana as a firefighter-paramedic for over 19 years and has practiced paramedicine for 17 of those years in both hospital and prehospital settings. What distinguishes Austin is not only the longevity of his service, but the diversity and depth of his impact. He is a trusted provider, a decorated rescuer, a respected instructor, and a role model to countless paramedics in training.”
“Austin has played pivotal roles in our special operations division, including as a USAR Rescue Team Leader and Adjunct Instructor in technical rescue disciplines such as confined space, structural collapse, and swiftwater operations. In every one of these domains, Austin leads from the front—managing complex rescues, mentoring junior personnel, and maintaining clinical precision even in the most chaotic and dangerous environments,” Dr. Janese explained.
But it’s not just about Tull’s service record. “His service record is further bolstered by a history of professional recognition. He was named the 2018 Dallas Greene Firefighter of the Year, honored in the 2018 Salute the Badge program, and received the 2006 Volunteer Firefighter of the Year and 2008 Rapides Parish Firefighter of the Year awards,” explained the doctor. “These are not merely ceremonial titles—they reflect the consistent admiration and respect of his peers, supervisors, and community members.”
However, the doctor went on to say, “What makes Austin truly deserving of this honor, however, is his quiet professionalism and tireless commitment to excellence. He maintains elite physical fitness, holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, and approaches every shift with a sense of duty that never waivers. Whether providing ALS in the back of a rescue unit, diving into floodwaters for a swiftwater rescue, or teaching a paramedic student how to interpret a difficult ECG, Austin is unshakable, humble, and focused on doing the right thing.”
“In a profession that demands everything and promises little, Austin Tull has given his very best for nearly two decades. He is exactly the kind of paramedic we should celebrate, and more importantly, the kind of paramedic we should emulate,” wrote Dr. Janese. “For these reasons and many more, I offer my highest and most enthusiastic support for Austin Tull to be named LANREMT’s Paramedic of the Year.”
The Shreveport Fire Department offered its congratulations to Fire Engineer Tull on this great accomplishment.