The award marked the second consecutive year that Mayo EMS has received a statewide honor. Lt. Richard Brown, WEMT-P, who has worked at Mayo for 24 years, received the EMS Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.

Mullis was nominated by Mayo paramedics Brown, Bill Zimmerman and Lisa Simko, on behalf of the entire ambulance crew, for the Excellence in EMS Award. The award recognizes his outstanding performance at Mayo Regional Hospital since taking over as manager of the department in 2000, his contributions to the regional emergency medical system, and his EMS educational efforts.

"The part that makes the award worthwhile for me is that the nomination comes from my crew," said Mullis. "I'm very humbled that my crew has done this, and I feel that my success has come from them."

Noting the back-to-back Maine EMS awards for Mayo, CEO Ralph Gabarro said, "The community should be proud that their ambulance service is so respected at the state level."

A native of Corinna, Mullis graduated from Nokomis Regional High School in Newport and served five years in the United States Navy as a medic before receiving his paramedic certification from Kennebec Valley Technical College. After serving for one year as a firefighter/paramedic in New Gloucester, Mullis joined Mayo EMS in 1995 and has since been employed as a full-time paramedic at the hospital. He has received specialized training in critical care and wilderness EMS.