EMS Program Director Paul Cissel retiring after 15 years at Laurel Ridge Community College

A man in a navy blue cap and gown walks outdoors at a graduation ceremony, wearing glasses, a blue and white checkered collared shirt, a white stole, and a gold medallion on a cord around his neck. His cap has a gold tassel. Blurred greenery fills the background, and other graduates in caps and gowns are visible around him. — Paul Cissel

Laurel Ridge’s Paul Cissel has played a role in saving countless lives in the region. The EMS program director has served at the college for 15 years. Before that, he spent decades in the fire and rescue service.

Paul’s Sept. 1 retirement date dovetails with the graduation of the first cohort of students in the hybrid Paramedic Program at the Fauquier Campus. Last fall, Laurel Ridge’s Paramedic Program was expanded to the Fauquier Campus at the request of the Fauquier County Department of Fire and Rescue. Students attend classes one day a week, allowing them to continue working and volunteering at their individual agencies, including the fire and rescue department, Fauquier Health and Guardian Medical Services.

Paul has worked in the field of EMS for 44 years.

“I’ve been doing this longer than most of my students have been alive,” he noted. “I grew up with the TV show ‘Emergency.’ Most of the people my age who went into EMS, it was because of the TV show.”

He served as a paramedic in Prince George’s County, Maryland – where he grew up – for about 23 years.

A group of graduates in navy blue caps and gowns pose together in a classroom, most wearing medals on red, white, and blue ribbons and honor cords in gold. In the center, a graduate holds a navy Laurel Ridge diploma folder while giving a thumbs up. A man in a blue Laurel Ridge polo shirt stands among the students toward the back, and a young man in a Laurel Ridge polo shirt stands at the far right. One graduate on the right stands with crutches. A whiteboard and mounted camera are visible on the wall behind the group.

Paul Cissel at the 2026 EMS coin ceremony.

“I retired from the fire department – my wife told me to get out of the house and find something to do,” said Paul, who has a wry sense of humor.

He found his next chapter at Laurel Ridge, starting as a lab assistant in 2011, before becoming an adjunct professor. He has been EMS program director for the past five years.

Teaching has been a rewarding experience for Paul.

“I like teaching,” he said. “I’m a quiet and shy person, but for some reason, I enjoy teaching, especially dual-enrollment classes. I’ve liked working here. It’s been fun.”

Paul said this year has had the largest number of EMS students – about 100. He has seen students continue on to work for fire and rescue departments, AirCare services, apply to nursing school, and even enroll in medical school.

“This is a good intro to medicine,” said Paul. “We learn a little bit about most everything.”

Paul has an adventurous retirement planned. He and his wife of 39 years already have a big vacation booked.

“We’re going away to Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii,” he said. “We’re going for six weeks. We leave in October – spending my kids’ inheritance! My wife and I like camping. We met at a summer camp. She was a camp cook and I was the camp nurse.”