More About The Leadership Team
David Gallagher., PHRN, CEMSO, CFO – Executive Director (He/Him/His)
Chief Gallagher has a long and notable career in emergency services. In 2001, David set out to establish an EMS service in order to ensure dedicated and reliable EMS coverage for his hometown of Stowe Township, thus becoming a founder and inaugural Chief for the service known today as NorthWest EMS. After retiring from EMS, he also held other various prominent public safety positions over the past decade, serving as the Deputy Fire Commissioner for Philadelphia Fire and later the Public Safety Director of Cranberry Township. He is a retired fire chief from Stowe Township VFD, where he served for over 20 years. Despite having been “retired from EMS”, Chief Gallagher returned to NorthWest EMS in 2020 to lead an organizational redevelopment for the continued health of the agency.
Brian O’Connor, MSN, PHRN, CTRN – Assistant Chief of Administration (He/Him/His)
Brian oversees administrative and operational functions of the organization, with his primary duties focused on human resources, personnel management, shift supervision, and clinical operations. He grew up in Michigan, but moved to Pittsburgh to attend nursing school at Pitt. During nursing school, Brian had the opportunity to take part in a unique EMS preceptorship and found his passion for providing care in the prehospital environment. After working as an emergency and critical care nurse for a couple of years, Brian pursued the PHRN certification and began working clinically at NWEMS. Before being promoted into the role of Assistant Chief, Brian worked at all ranks from field clinician to lieutenant to District Chief of Training. Brian hold a Master’s degree in nursing education and leadership, and he is currently enrolled in a post-master’s certificate program to become a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner.
Dylan Laplante, NRP – Assistant Chief of Operations (He/Him/His)
Dylan is originally from Massachusetts and started as an EMT with NWEMS in 2016, advancing through the organization over the past several years. He completed his paramedic training through the Center for Emergency Medicine in 2018, and was promoted to District Chief in 2019. Dylan is responsible for handling operations and logistics, with particular attention to scheduling, supply management, and community outreach events. In the past, Dylan served honorably as a 19D Cavalry Scout in the U.S. Army from 2009-2012; he served in Iraq in 2010, receiving the Army Commendation Medal for excellence in combat. Dylan is currently in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in EMS Administration through Columbia Southern University. He resides locally and is happily married to his wife, Hailey.
Benedict Campbell, NRP – District Chief of Training (He/Him/His)
Ben is our District Chief of Training, handling all components of new hire orientation, continuing education, and coordination of community education. He is also responsible for scheduling all students and observers and maintains a close working relationship with the local EMS training institutions. Ben has also worked as a Response Paramedic for UPMC St. Margaret and he teaches as an instructor for the Center for Emergency Medicine and University of Pittsburgh, assisting with their EMT and Paramedic programs. Ben is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration with an EMS focus through Point Park University. Ben is happily married to his wife Katie and has two cats named Sam and Zoe. Ben grew up in England and is an avid 'football' fan, supporting Arsenal FC.
Kayla Himes, PHRN– District Chief of West Allegheny (She/Her/Hers)
Kayla Himes is an experienced paramedic and PHRN who oversees operations in the West Allegheny area as a District Chief. Kayla worked as a field paramedic for several years after graduating from The University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s of Science in Emergency Medicine. She attended nursing school in 2017 and, after graduating, became a Registered Nurse working in the Emergency Department and at NorthWest EMS as a PHRN before transitioning into her role as District Chief full-time. She is happily married to her husband, Alex, who also works in the medical field. Together they have one cat, Amora, who they adopted in 2018.
Marie Park – Paramedic Lieutenant (She/Her/Hers)
Andrew Saylor – PHRN Lieutenant (He/Him/His)
Andrew started in EMS in 2006 as an EMT, transitioned to PHRN in 2014, and joined NWEMS in 2018 after 6 years working as an emergency department RN. He enjoys the fast pace, variety of calls, and emphasis on continual learning at NorthWest. Andrew also works part time as a flight nurse for a local aeromedical service, serves in the US Army Reserves as an emergency nurse, and volunteers with Kennedy Township Fire. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, running on the Montour Trail, and is an avid Penguins fan.
Marc Hansen – Paramedic Lieutenant (He/Him/His)
Marc started as an EMT in 1994 and first arrived at Northwest in 2012. In addition to time spent working at several ambulance services, Marc has worked in occupational medicine at several industrial and construction sites around the area. In addition to attending classes for Advanced EMT and Paramedic, he has been an EMS instructor at the Community College of Beaver County and Penn State University Fayette and is currently enrolled at Columbia Southern University working towards a BS in EMS Administration. When not working, Marc enjoys spending his free time with his wife, three daughters and granddaughter.
Matt Wilson – Paramedic Lieutenant (He/Him/His)
Chief Gallagher has a long and notable career in emergency services. In 2001, David set out to establish an EMS service in order to ensure dedicated and reliable EMS coverage for his hometown of Stowe Township, thus becoming a founder and inaugural Chief for the service known today as NorthWest EMS. After retiring from EMS, he also held other various prominent public safety positions over the past decade, serving as the Deputy Fire Commissioner for Philadelphia Fire and later the Public Safety Director of Cranberry Township. He is a retired fire chief from Stowe Township VFD, where he served for over 20 years. Despite having been “retired from EMS”, Chief Gallagher returned to NorthWest EMS in 2020 to lead an organizational redevelopment for the continued health of the agency.
Brian O’Connor, MSN, PHRN, CTRN – Assistant Chief of Administration (He/Him/His)
Brian oversees administrative and operational functions of the organization, with his primary duties focused on human resources, personnel management, shift supervision, and clinical operations. He grew up in Michigan, but moved to Pittsburgh to attend nursing school at Pitt. During nursing school, Brian had the opportunity to take part in a unique EMS preceptorship and found his passion for providing care in the prehospital environment. After working as an emergency and critical care nurse for a couple of years, Brian pursued the PHRN certification and began working clinically at NWEMS. Before being promoted into the role of Assistant Chief, Brian worked at all ranks from field clinician to lieutenant to District Chief of Training. Brian hold a Master’s degree in nursing education and leadership, and he is currently enrolled in a post-master’s certificate program to become a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner.
Dylan Laplante, NRP – Assistant Chief of Operations (He/Him/His)
Dylan is originally from Massachusetts and started as an EMT with NWEMS in 2016, advancing through the organization over the past several years. He completed his paramedic training through the Center for Emergency Medicine in 2018, and was promoted to District Chief in 2019. Dylan is responsible for handling operations and logistics, with particular attention to scheduling, supply management, and community outreach events. In the past, Dylan served honorably as a 19D Cavalry Scout in the U.S. Army from 2009-2012; he served in Iraq in 2010, receiving the Army Commendation Medal for excellence in combat. Dylan is currently in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in EMS Administration through Columbia Southern University. He resides locally and is happily married to his wife, Hailey.
Benedict Campbell, NRP – District Chief of Training (He/Him/His)
Ben is our District Chief of Training, handling all components of new hire orientation, continuing education, and coordination of community education. He is also responsible for scheduling all students and observers and maintains a close working relationship with the local EMS training institutions. Ben has also worked as a Response Paramedic for UPMC St. Margaret and he teaches as an instructor for the Center for Emergency Medicine and University of Pittsburgh, assisting with their EMT and Paramedic programs. Ben is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration with an EMS focus through Point Park University. Ben is happily married to his wife Katie and has two cats named Sam and Zoe. Ben grew up in England and is an avid 'football' fan, supporting Arsenal FC.
Kayla Himes, PHRN– District Chief of West Allegheny (She/Her/Hers)
Kayla Himes is an experienced paramedic and PHRN who oversees operations in the West Allegheny area as a District Chief. Kayla worked as a field paramedic for several years after graduating from The University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s of Science in Emergency Medicine. She attended nursing school in 2017 and, after graduating, became a Registered Nurse working in the Emergency Department and at NorthWest EMS as a PHRN before transitioning into her role as District Chief full-time. She is happily married to her husband, Alex, who also works in the medical field. Together they have one cat, Amora, who they adopted in 2018.
Marie Park – Paramedic Lieutenant (She/Her/Hers)
Andrew Saylor – PHRN Lieutenant (He/Him/His)
Andrew started in EMS in 2006 as an EMT, transitioned to PHRN in 2014, and joined NWEMS in 2018 after 6 years working as an emergency department RN. He enjoys the fast pace, variety of calls, and emphasis on continual learning at NorthWest. Andrew also works part time as a flight nurse for a local aeromedical service, serves in the US Army Reserves as an emergency nurse, and volunteers with Kennedy Township Fire. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, running on the Montour Trail, and is an avid Penguins fan.
Marc Hansen – Paramedic Lieutenant (He/Him/His)
Marc started as an EMT in 1994 and first arrived at Northwest in 2012. In addition to time spent working at several ambulance services, Marc has worked in occupational medicine at several industrial and construction sites around the area. In addition to attending classes for Advanced EMT and Paramedic, he has been an EMS instructor at the Community College of Beaver County and Penn State University Fayette and is currently enrolled at Columbia Southern University working towards a BS in EMS Administration. When not working, Marc enjoys spending his free time with his wife, three daughters and granddaughter.
Matt Wilson – Paramedic Lieutenant (He/Him/His)
