LARNED — In conjunction with the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office, the Pawnee County Commissioner named Josh Huff as the county’s interim emergency management director in an announcement last week.

Huff, who joins the sheriff’s office as a lieutenant, will work half-time as the county jail administrator and half-time as emergency management director. He replaces Mark Wagner who has taken a leave of absence. County attorney Doug McNett said it is unclear at this time when Wagner will resume his fulltime position as acting emergency management director.  The sheriff’s office has temporarily taken over operation of the county’s emergency management services. 

A Larned native, Huff brings 24 years of experience in emergency medicine, most recently as a flight paramedic for Eagle Med. He served as a firefighter for the Manhattan Fire Department for 13 years and left the department as a captain. Previous experience also includes deputy work with the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office.

Huff returned to Larned in 2014 as director of the City of Larned’s Emergency Medical Services. He has spent the last 10 years as a certified law enforcement officer. Huff is also certified in arson investigations and hazardous materials. 

Pawnee County Emergency Management is responsible for the planning, coordination and preparedness of available resources for the alleviation of, response to and recovery from all-hazards involving storm or natural disasters, technological or man-made catastrophes and other emergencies.