Andrew is a co-founder of SOARescue and a veteran of the US Army. Andrew has found a passion for training tactical and military medics to perform beyond the baseline. His career began as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. The passion for the medical and rescue aspects of the job drove Andrew to enlist as a medic. Having served in varying roles, Andrew identified multiple gaps between the training provided and the needed care. Andrew continued to work as a flight paramedic, providing critical care and rescue services. Upon transitioning to the reserves, Andrew worked as a flight and tactical paramedic in one of the nation's leading academic hospital systems. Andrew then became a USSOCOM contractor, helping establish a rotor wing CASEVAC and a personnel recovery program at OCONUS. Andrew was expected to function in various specialties, including TCCC, Critical Care, Hoist operations and rescue, water rescue, rope rescue, and vehicle extrication when serving in this role. Since returning home from this program, Andrew has worked full-time with SOARescue while maintaining an active status with a specialty team. Andrew's current involvement in developing and deploying multiple federal operational medicine programs demonstrates his ongoing commitment to the field. He is a current member of the Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care and is currently involved in these programs. 

Alan Elam is SOARescue's Chief Operations Officer and is in charge of the day-to-day admin work behind the scenes to keep us up and running A NC Paramedic, Alan has 20 years of EMS experience, with assignments ranging from rural volunteer medicine to urban TEMS attachments. 

Alan graduated from App State with a degree in Risk Management and uses that background to keep our cadre and administrative staff in line. 

While a capable instructor, Alan prefers to stay behind-the-scenes and spends his days supporting the instructors who make our courses as valuable as they are! 

Ben is the Director of Brand Development and a Lead Instructor at Special Operations Aid & Rescue with over 16 years in prehospital and emergency medicine experience. He started his career in Cleveland Ohio and graduated from the Cleveland Clinic EMS Academy. He began his career in public safety as a Firefighter/Paramedic in Cleveland. Since then, he has worked as a paramedic in Ohio, North Carolina, and in Pennsylvania with experience in municipal, county based, and hospital based prehospital care. Ben was the Battalion Chief and Assistant Manager of Field Operations for a large EMS agency in central Pennsylvania where he also served as the TEMS Team Leader for a county based SWAT team. Ben obtained his bachelor's degree in Emergency and Disaster Management and his Masters of Science as a Physician Assistant from the Yale School of Medicine. He currently works as an Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and is the medical provider attached to a federal SWAT team. Ben has been involved with all aspects of the organization from the very beginning including brand and product development, course and education development and is still active in course instruction. 

When the company was born 10 years ago, Dr. Furphy managed to be wrangled in to be SOARescue's medical director. Her participation in our agency has allowed us to grow into the company we are. Without her, our curriculum and retail shop would not be possible!

A board certified emergency physician, Melissa has been practicing in NC for 14 years and has been an unwavering supporter of our mission since she was first approached about it. Dr. Furphy believed that it was pivotal to take out TMP course in order to be able to adequately support us and the needs of our mission as we grew!

Dr. Goldhahn joined SOARescue as education medical director in 2021, after completing the Tactical Medical Practitioner (TMP) course. He has been an EMS medical director since 2018 and has been an active tactical practitioner since 2020. He started his career in emergency medical services 27 years ago shortly after leaving the Navy. Although he served in the combat systems role while in the Navy, he pursued a career in emergency medical services and emergency medicine after returning to civilian life. He is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians (FACEP) and a member of the Tactical and Law Enforcement Medicine Section. He is also a Fellow in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine of the Wilderness Medical Society (FAWM).  He is board certified in emergency medicine, and has interests including tactical medicine, wilderness medicine, forensics, and point of care ultrasound.  He enjoys teaching whenever he can and enjoys working with our law enforcement and military partners whenever possible. He lives in Central Pennsylvania with his wife and two kids.

Kayle Mason joined the SOARescue team as Director of Finance in August, 2022. A graduate of Queens University of Charlotte, Kayle utilizes his BBA and MBA to lead the finance department and its divisions toward interdepartmental collaboration to best serve the organization as a whole. By delivering agile solutions, strategic direction, and sound financial planning, he is driven to fulfill the organization's mission.

Haley leads as our intra-departmental administrative and development expert. With a strong background in both science and education, she blends strong organization and communication skills to support every corner of our business. A trusted advisor and partner within our community, from developing resources to ensuring everyone has the tools they need each day, Haley contributes to the core of making our mission possible.

Meg is SOARescue's general director. If the project involves SOAR equipment, products, marketing, client/contract communication, custom solutions, social media, etc... it comes across her desk. Also a NC Paramedic, Meg has an 8 year history in EMS and has been a practicing care team provider for canines for over 10 years, as well. 

Meg prefers to work in the background and believes her primary role at SOARescue is to support the cadre and admin staff to the best of her ability, in addition to managing and marketing the brand. 

Andy has over 25 years of civilian EMS experience, most of that time spent as a career paramedic. He has been involved in tactical medicine in various roles for over 15 years and has been an instructor for SOAR since 2015. In addition to that, Andy has held positions in hospital administration, emergency management, and EMS system development. A passionate clinician and educator, Andy is happiest getting his hands dirty and helping to develop those who will carry the profession into the future. Andy is located near Harrisburg, PA where he resides with this family. 

Tom served 12 years in the Army with his final assignments as an SRT member and Detachment Sergeant. After the Army, Tom was floating in no man lands while he earned his degree, EMT certification and then Paramedic. In early 2018, Tom joined SOAR as our Program Coordinator. He found himself where he belongs, working with true professionals and practicing front line medicine as a Paramedic in a highly progressive agency in the Inland Northwest, where he lives with his wife, son, and their dog Kilo.  

Bret Mitchell is a Nationally Registered Paramedic, holding the Critical Care Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (CCEMT-P) certification from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. With a career as a Firefighter/Paramedic, Bret serves a federal government agency, where he is assigned to a heavy rescue unit specializing in technical rescue and hazardous materials. His expertise also extends to serving as a FEMA USAR Medical Specialist, bringing a wealth of knowledge in emergency response and specialized rescue techniques.

Bret’s journey with SOARescue began in 2016 when he attended his first Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) course. Since then, he has expanded his skills by completing the Tactical Medical Practitioner (TMP) course in 2017 and the Rescue Medical Practitioner (RMP) course in 2020. Now, as an instructor for the TMP, RMP, and Extended Austere Provider (EAP) courses, Bret is committed to sharing his experience and knowledge with others in the field.