LifeFlight Announces New CEO
Read Joe Kellner’s bio and our press release.
As we celebrate 25 years of LifeFlight Maine, we are pleased to announce that Joe Kellner will take on the role of chief executive officer for LifeFlight of Maine. Tom Judge, founder and executive director, has decided to step back from his current role beginning October 1, 2023.
Joe currently serves as chief financial officer of LifeFlight of Maine. He is also the vice president of finance, operations, and strategy for Northern Light Home Care and Hospice, Northern Light Medical Transport, and the chief operating officer for MedComm.
Joe’s responsibilities will encompass all operations of LifeFlight of Maine and LifeFlight Aviation Services. He will be supported by Bill Cyr, the chief operating officer of LifeFlight, and Josh Dickson, the director of aviation services. In addition, Kellner will work in close partnership with The LifeFlight Foundation, which was also founded by Tom Judge in 2003.
Under Tom’s leadership, LifeFlight of Maine has received numerous awards for safety, innovation, and clinical excellence. He will continue to serve LifeFlight in a supporting role as project officer, assisting with legislative advocacy, working with the FAA on national safety initiatives, and supporting LifeFlight’s research group.
In commenting on this transition, Tom said, “LifeFlight represents an extraordinary effort by hundreds of people over the years building something truly of Maine, for Maine, and by Maine. We have developed our vision for the road ahead, and we have built an incredibly capable team and leadership group. It has been a gift for me to serve, and I am looking forward to stepping back from the front line to support the team. We have come a long way and there is an incredible journey ahead, making sure LifeFlight is always there for the people of Maine, when and where they need us.”
We welcome Joe Kellner as the new CEO, and we look forward to supporting him and LifeFlight as we look ahead to caring for the people of Maine in the next 25 years.
About Joe Kellner
Joe Kellner steps into the role of CEO of LifeFlight of Maine with years of experience as a paramedic, expertise in EMS operations, including at LifeFlight of Maine, a deep understanding of healthcare policy, particularly in Maine, and a dedication to building world-class EMS systems to improve healthcare outcomes.
While studying for a degree in German at the University of Maine, Joe approached the local volunteer ambulance service to learn where he could find an EMT course, mostly to acquire some basic skills should they become necessary. The on-duty crew convinced him to do an observation shift on the ambulance, and he was hooked.
Over his twenty-year career, he has worked for EMS agencies of all types, including volunteer, municipal, private, and healthcare system based. He has served in various roles, including EMS clinician, educator, supervisor, director, service chief, and most notably as the senior leader of Northern Light Medical Transport, one of the largest ambulance services in the State of Maine. Since 2012, Joe has also served as the chief operating officer of MedComm, a state-wide ground and air ambulance communications center, which dispatches LifeFlight crews in addition to other services.
With a strong interest in advocacy and policy, Joe served the Maine EMS board for seven years under appointments from both Governors Lepage and Mills, including a two-year term as chair. He regularly testifies on EMS issues before the Maine legislature and has advocated nationally on issues facing EMS.
Most recently, Joe served as Chief Financial Officer for LifeFlight of Maine, while simultaneously working for Northern Light Health as Vice President of Finance, Operations, and Strategy at Northern Light Home Care and Hospice and Northern Light Medical Transport.
Joe earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Maine in Orono. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a licensed paramedic in Maine. He has received numerous awards and accolades for his work in EMS. He lives in Windham, Maine, with his wife, Caitlin, and their two boys, Elliott and Leland.
Press Release
LifeFlight of Maine Announces New CEO
Augusta, Maine – As LifeFlight of Maine celebrates 25 years of service, Tom Judge has decided to step back as the executive director of the internationally renowned air medical and aviation service. Under Judge’s leadership, LifeFlight of Maine has received numerous awards for safety, innovation, and clinical excellence. In addition to founding LifeFlight of Maine, Judge was instrumental in establishing The LifeFlight Foundation and, most recently, LifeFlight’s new aviation operation, LifeFlight Aviation Services. Judge will continue to serve LifeFlight in a supporting role as project officer, assisting with legislative advocacy, working with the FAA on national safety initiatives, and supporting LifeFlight’s research group.
With Judge’s transition to a supporting role, Joe Kellner of Windham will take on the role of chief executive officer for LifeFlight of Maine. Kellner currently serves as the vice president of finance, operations, and strategy for Northern Light Home Care and Hospice, Northern Light Medical Transport, and chief financial officer of LifeFlight of Maine. He also serves as the chief operating officer for MedComm. Kellner will begin his role as chief executive officer of LifeFlight of Maine on October 1, 2023.
Kellner’s responsibilities will encompass all operations of LifeFlight of Maine and LifeFlight Aviation Services. He will be supported by Bill Cyr, the chief operating officer of LifeFlight, and Josh Dickson, the director of aviation services. In addition, Kellner will work in close partnership with The LifeFlight Foundation, led by Kate O’Halloran who was appointed as the executive director in 2020.
In sharing the news, Timothy Dentry, president and CEO, Northern Light Health, remarked, “We are grateful to Tom for his vision and dedication in building a world class nonprofit air medical and aviation service. With Tom’s leadership, LifeFlight of Maine has become an invaluable resource to all of our communities, ensuring timely access to Maine’s emergency and trauma centers, regardless of where people live or find themselves in need.”
Dentry shared that Kellner has spent his 20-year career becoming a respected expert in emergency medical services. He commented, “Over the years, Joe has tirelessly worked to advocate for EMS locally and nationally, and has remained very close to LifeFlight, most recently serving as its chief financial officer. He is well positioned to lead LifeFlight of Maine into the future.”
“I would like to personally thank Tom Judge for his leadership at LifeFlight over the past 25 years,” said Steve Littleson, president and CEO, Central Maine Healthcare. “In just the past year, LifeFlight has made nearly 400 flights to and from our hospitals in Bridgton, Lewiston, and Rumford, transporting patients more than 25,000 miles. In a state with very challenging terrain, LifeFlight is a real difference-maker in getting patients the care they need as quickly as possible. I look forward to working with Joe Kellner as he takes the reins on this outstanding organization.”
In commenting on his transition and service to LifeFlight of Maine, Judge said, “LifeFlight represents an extraordinary effort by hundreds of people over the years building something truly of Maine, for Maine, and by Maine. We have developed our vision for the road ahead, and we have built an incredibly capable team and leadership group. It has been a gift for me to serve, and I am looking forward to stepping back from the front line to support the team. We have come a long way and there is an incredible journey ahead, making sure LifeFlight is always there for the people of Maine, when and where they need us.”
LifeFlight of Maine is a joint partnership between Northern Light Health and Central Maine Healthcare and is the state’s only air ambulance service. During its 25 years, LifeFlight has safely cared for more than 36,000 patients from every community and hospital in the state. LifeFlight deploys medical teams from bases in Sanford, Lewiston, and Bangor, using three helicopters, an airplane, rapid response vehicles, and specialized ground ambulances. These teams care for all of Maine’s communities every day of the year, partnering with local EMS, Fire/Rescue, and hospital providers.
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