Rescue Task Force Medic (Ret.)
Ryan Gomez — 26 years of frontline EMS & tactical rescue response in New York City, 1999–2026
Alongside architecting data systems, I spent 26 years as a rescue medic and EMT in New York City — volunteer response, ambulance corps, and finally a tactical rescue task force — before retiring from the field in 2026. Three deployments define that career more than any title on it: responding to the September 11 attacks, working the response to Superstorm Sandy, and leading the medical unit at the world's first COVID-19 vaccine hub during the pandemic. The instinct underneath all three is the same one I bring to enterprise systems now — stay calm, read the system, act.
Major deployments
Three responses stand out as the moments that most tested — and most shaped — how I think about operating under pressure.
World Trade Center Response
Responded to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, providing frontline emergency medical care during one of the largest mass-casualty responses in the city's history.
Superstorm Sandy
Deployed during Superstorm Sandy, delivering emergency medical care across storm-ravaged New York City neighborhoods amid widespread flooding, power loss, and damaged infrastructure.
COVID-19 Vaccine Hub
Led the medical unit at the world's first COVID-19 vaccine hub, overseeing the clinical team that inoculated the first patients against COVID-19.
Career timeline
Tactical Medic, Hudson County Rescue Task Force (Ret.)
Search & Rescue: Trained search-and-rescue responder providing in-field medical care, including traumatic injury care, aggressive life-saving techniques, in-field stabilization, in-field surgical tracheotomy, and advanced CPR.
Tactical Response: NRA-certified marksman and tactically trained rescue medic, capable of providing armed response in hot-zone and warm-zone threat areas.
Corpsman EMT, Hoboken Ambulance Corps
Patient Care: Provided frontline medical care in emergency settings, managing critical cases with professionalism and efficiency, achieving high patient satisfaction scores.
Community Engagement: Conducted first-aid and CPR workshops for community members, schools, and local organizations, strengthening community preparedness and awareness of emergency response techniques.
Compliance: Maintained meticulous documentation of patient interactions, treatments, and outcomes in compliance with local and federal regulations.
Medical Unit Lead, COVID-19 Vaccine Hub
Pandemic Response: Led the medical unit at the world's first COVID-19 vaccine hub during the height of the pandemic, overseeing the clinical team responsible for patient intake, screening, and vaccine administration.
First Doses: Directed the team that administered the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to patients, coordinating clinical staff under intense public attention and constantly evolving protocols.
Volunteer EMT & Rescue Medic, NYC Medical Corps
Trauma & High-Risk Response: Specialized in tactical and high-risk emergency medical care, providing immediate response across diverse settings, from natural disasters to high-security events — including the September 11 response and Superstorm Sandy.
Advanced Trauma Life Support: Administered life-saving interventions including CPR, airway management, and hemorrhage control, using trauma response protocols in high-pressure situations.
Skill Development: Regularly participated in training for tactical rescue, advanced cardiac life support, and emergency preparedness, staying current with best practices in emergency medicine.
Collaboration with Law Enforcement: Coordinated with law enforcement during tactical operations, ensuring prompt medical support for officers and civilians in critical situations.
Certifications & training
Certified E.M.T.
New York State Department of Health
Tactical E.M.T.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice (Aura Program)
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
American Heart Association
Same instinct, different stakes: I bring that field-tested discipline — staying composed under pressure, reading a system fast, and acting on incomplete information — to the data and AI systems I build today. Get in touch →