Harris County Emergency Services District No. 11 announced the hiring of Doug Hooten as its first executive director in a Dec. 3 press release.

Hooten has 35 years of experience in EMS, including time served as a paramedic and eight years as the CEO of MedStar Mobile Healthcare, an EMS provider to Fort Worth and the 14 surrounding North Texas cities, according to the press release.

“The people providing patient care in this community do amazing work every day,” Hooten said in a statement. “My number one goal is to help design and build a system that will build on their commitment to this community, and provide them the resources they need to deliver the world-class emergency medical services the ESD and the community can rely on, and be proud of.”

ESD No. 11 terminated its relationship with longtime EMS provider CCEMS on Sept. 3. Although there are rumors the district is forming its own EMS service, this has not been confirmed.