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Cooper Lumsden is the President of the Harris County Emergency Corps (HCEC), where he brings more than two decades of experience in emergency medical services to his leadership role. A licensed paramedic for over 20 years, his career with HCEC began as an attendant. His dedication and expertise led to him rising through the ranks, eventually serving as both Logistics Tech and Logistics Director.
Cooper’s profound commitment to public service extends beyond HCEC. He is also a retired Houston firefighter, serving the City of Houston for 21 years. This dual experience provides him with a unique and comprehensive understanding of the complex coordination required for emergency response and management. Cooper holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University, combining his field knowledge with a strong foundation in business management.
Heath is a native Texan who started his EMS career in 1992 with the Harris County Emergency Corps. His career has seen his progression from Emergency Medical Technician through the ranks of his current position as VP of Operations. Heath oversees the daily operation of the organization, ensuring that ambulances are ready to respond to the organization’s 18,000 annual requests for service. Heath has also worked as a Flight Paramedic with Memorial Hermann Life Flight and instructed for North Harris College’s EMS department for many years.
Chivas Guillote, DNP, APRN, ENP, FNP, AGACNP, LP, is a native of Spring, Texas, and started in EMS in 1992. Chivas obtained his Paramedic certificate and an Associate degree in Nursing from Lonestar College North Harris. He received his undergraduate degree in Nursing from UTHealth Houston. He returned to UTHealth Houston to complete a Master of Science in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. He obtained two additional Post-Master’s certificates in Emergency/Trauma Care and Adult/Gerontology Acute Care. Chivas received his Doctorate of Nursing Practice with an emphasis in executive leadership from Johns Hopkins University. While training to become a Nurse Practitioner, Chivas completed rotations in Family Practice, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, Emergency Care, Critical Care, and Hospital Medicine. His rotations were conducted at Houston Methodist Hospital, Memorial Hermann Hospital, CHI St. Luke’s Health, Ben Taub General Hospital, and Harris Health outpatient clinics.
Chivas is board-certified as a Nurse Practitioner in Family Practice, Emergency Care, and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care. He is a Registered Advanced Practice Nurse and Paramedic in Texas. He is board-certified as a Flight Nurse and Critical Care Nurse. Chivas is a staff NP in the Emergency Department at CHI St. Luke’s Health, servicing a rural population in a federally designated critical access hospital in East Texas. Chivas is casual faculty at UTHealth Houston in the Emergency Nurse Practitioner program. He is a member of the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force 6 as a Nurse Practitioner for the Mobile Medical Unit.
Chivas began at HCEC in the mid-1990s as a medic and dispatcher. Although gone for many years, he returned to HCEC in 2012. Working closely with Dr. Decker, Chivas leads the Clinical Services team and provides executive oversight over the clinical mission of HCEC. He is an experienced Paramedic, Flight Nurse, Critical Care Nurse, and Nurse Practitioner. Chivas has worked in various operational, clinical, educational, and leadership roles at Memorial Hermann, Montgomery County Hospital District, Cypress Creek EMS, Envision Physician Services, Integrative Emergency Services, and UTHealth Houston.
Cameron Decker, MD, LP, FACEP, FAEMS is a graduate of Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine. He completed his residency in Emergency Medicine and fellowship in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at Baylor College of Medicine.
Dr. Decker is double board certified in emergency medicine and EMS medicine, an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, and faculty at Ben Taub Hospital, one of the busiest Level I trauma centers in the country.
As a Licensed Paramedic, Dr. Decker has an extensive background in pre-hospital care, having been active in EMS through multiple 911 departments. Before becoming the Medical Director of Harris County Emergency Corps, he worked there as a Paramedic. He is the Medical Director of Rice University EMS, Aldine Fire Rescue, Eastex Fire Department, Northwest Fire Rescue, Westfield Fire Department, and The Emergency Medical Task Force – 6, the State’s regional response network for large scale medical incidents. He also serves as a Medical Team Manager for Texas A&M Task Force 1, a FEMA and TDEM US&R team, and is a decorated Master Peace Officer and Tactical Physician with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team.
