Mark Staley

With more than 30 years in EMS, Mark Staley began serving his community as a responder before officially earning his EMT certification in 1996. He has since advanced to Paramedic and now serves as Operations Manager for Pafford Medical Services in Chicot and Drew Counties.

Mark was inspired by his mother, a registered nurse, and his father, a law enforcement officer, who showed him that service to others was rewarding. Introduced to EMS by family friends and drawn further by the television show Emergency!, he quickly found his calling.

Early in his career, Mark focused on learning as much as possible to better serve patients. Today, he finds his greatest joy in teaching others—sharing the “tricks of the trade” and witnessing the moment a new provider truly grasps a complex concept. Known as a mentor and role model, he never misses an opportunity to turn experience into a lesson, reminding his crews that “the greatest level of trust you can obtain is a mother handing you their sick or injured child—earn it.”

Mark’s leadership extends well beyond scheduling and logistics. He is the type of manager who will show up on his day off to let a team member attend a family event, check in with a crew after a difficult shift, or scrub a truck alongside his staff. His humility is striking—he credits mentors, Ken Kelley and Benny Ford, his wife, Jamie, and his dedicated crews for making him the leader he is today.

Outside of EMS, Mark enjoys traveling with his wife, bow hunting whitetail deer, and finding peace and perspective in the stillness of a tree stand.

For his decades of service, mentorship, and devotion to the people of Southeast Arkansas, Pafford Medical Services is proud to honor Paramedic Mark Staley as a 2025 Star of Life.