Meet Our EMT Lead Instructors

Pod May 14, 2018

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In 2012, Jay retired as a Battalion Chief for Sacramento City Fire Department after 32 years as a career firefighter. ‘Chief,’ as he is respectfully called by his students, has always had an interest in EMS and received his first certification as an EMT 2 in 1983 and later became a licensed Paramedic in 1993. In addition, he is trained as a Certified Tactical Medic and has been in EMS instruction for over 30 years.

Joe Lieber
EMT Lead Instructor

Joe started his EMS career in Contra Costa County in 1993 as an EMT and became a Paramedic in 2000. Joe went on to serve as a Paramedic Firefighter in 2004 for Elk Grove/Cosumnes Fire where he retired from in 2022. Joe has been a Field training officer since 1995 and a Paramedic Preceptor since 2002. Joe has been an instructor and mentor for Sac State since 2021. Joe is passionate about teaching and mentoring future generations of EMS providers.

Alexander Puentes
EMT Lead Instructor

Alexander Puentes brings over a decade of experience in emergency services, education, and wellness to his role as an EMT Lead Instructor. He began his career as a wildland firefighter in 2014, serving three seasons before earning his EMT certification in 2016. He went on to work in BLS care in San Jose, building a strong foundation in prehospital medicine. From 2021 to 2025, Alexander worked with AMR San Jose and has served with Sierra Nevada Ambulance since 2023, gaining experience across both urban and rural EMS systems.

Joe Riedell
Lead EMT Instructor

Joe has been in EMS since 1989. After earning his Fire Science degree and EMT certification from the College of San Mateo, he went on to be a reserve firefighter for the city of Brisbane, Calif. (1990 -1993) and then became a full-time Firefighter/Engineer in 1994. He upgraded to Paramedic in 1995 and spent his 30-year career with Brisbane Fire (North County Fire Authority).

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Meet Our EMT Lead Instructors

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