Who Is Chris Church?

Chris Church

A brief introduction – I’m Chris Church, and I’m a Regional Program Director for CJ Systems Aviation Group, one of the world’s largest and oldest providers of medical aviation (thirty years or so, 120 aircraft, give or take…).  My territory extends from Orlando, Florida to the North through the Florida Keys.  I currently have responsibility for two helicopter EMS programs, both of which operate as private/public partnerships with established Fire Rescue systems.

Orange County FireStar – N601EH

FireStar, the northern of my programs, is a mature, highly successful program we operate in conjunction with Orange County Fire Rescue.  An evolution of Orange County’s original Law Enforcement/EMS program, CHASE, CJ has been the Program’s air operator for the past 5 years.  OCFRD is one of the State’s largest metropolitan Fire Departments – perhaps the second or third largest by combat personnel.  The program operates a single BK-117 and does scene work throughout an approximate 400 square mile area centring on Orlando.

In Stuart, Florida – about 150 miles South and East of Orlando, we operate the LifeStar program in conjunction with Martin County Fire Rescue.  LifeStar is a new program, just 5 years old, and was started at the same time as CJ became associated with FireStar.  In fact, FireStar and LifeStar were CJ Systems’ first public safety partnerships, and the programs spooled up within a month of each other.  LifeStar serves a 6 county area on Florida’s Treasure Coast, centered around Martin County and headquartered at Witham Field in Stuart, Florida.

Martin County LifeStar – N135WJ

As for me, I’m a former paramedic/medic-supervisor.  I had a public safety career in New England and then in Martin County before leaving about 10 years ago to build a series of high-tech companies.  After spending those years travelling extensively and serving mainly Fortune 500 companies in a variety of capacities, we sold our firm to a public company two years ago.  About the same time I learned about LifeStar operating in our community (I live in southern Martin County), and called up the Fire Chief – an old partner of mine – to see how we swung a helicopter, because frankly we don’t spend that kind of money here.  “Its a private/public partnership – you have to come out and see it to understand it”, Chief Billington said.  The short version from there is I fell in love with the program, began doing (a bunch of) pro-bono work with the Program, and ultimately being approached by CJ to join the company as a business manager for South Florida.

That’s me in a nutshell.  Being new to the aeromedical business, MTLI last year was invaluable in gaining a 360–degree view of program issues and operations.  Well worth the money, time and effort – and I met a bunch of friends and colleagues who’ve helped me over the past year, and who I’ve helped a bit.  I’m excited to move from the first-year classroom setting to second-year project team work, which will start in 30 minutes or so…

Wish me luck.