Richmond Ambulance Authority appoints interim CEO

Chip Decker has been named interim CEO of the Richmond Ambulance Authority.

The authority's board said yesterday that Decker, who has been the chief operating officer since November 2007, was chosen unanimously to replace Jerry Overton.

Overton, the authority's leader since 1991, announced his resignation in February to lead California-based Road Safety International Inc., which produces "black-box" monitoring systems used in emergency vehicles and a safe-driving program.

Decker will serve as interim CEO until a permanent appointment is made by the board, which is conducting a national search.

"I leave knowing that the Richmond Ambulance Authority is in good hands with Chip at the helm," Overton said. "He has shown strong leadership, knows the system and is respected by his peers."

Decker has 30 years of emergency medical services experience, both as a volunteer and as vice president of a large for-profit ambulance service before joining the Richmond authority in 2007. He is a nationally registered paramedic and is serving his second term on the Virginia EMS Advisory Board, having been originally named to the panel in 2001.

"Chip's excellent track record as COO and his extensive knowledge of the day-to-day operations of the authority and emergency medical services here in the city of Richmond make him the ideal person to lead the organization during this transition," said Dr. Joseph P. McMenamin, chairman of the Richmond Ambulance Authority's board.

Contact Joe Macenka at (804) 649-6804 or .