George Sazama

Air National Guardsman and South Dakota native George Sazama lives and works in Rapid City, South Dakota. A member of the South Dakota Air National Guard since 2001, he presently holds the rank of Technical Sergeant and maintains significant experience in emergency response, emergency medical care, and firefighting. A licensed registered nurse (RN) as well, George Sazama works in the intensive care unit at Rapid City Regional Hospital, one of the Black Hills area’s largest medical centers. In this role, he primarily provides care to post-surgery patients, including individuals who underwent major cardiac and neurological operations.

Since joining the South Dakota Air National Guard, George Sazama has distinguished himself as a hard-working serviceman and a competent leader. In 2002, he graduated from the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas. A year later, he completed emergency medical technician (EMT) basic training through the Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He currently holds national EMT licensure as well as accreditation as a basic life support (BLS) teacher. During his career in the Air National Guard, George Sazama has also learned how to maintain firefighting equipment, how to effectively and efficiently respond to various emergency scenarios, and how to implement safety protocols and lead response crews in disaster situations.

In 2009, George Sazama earned his Associate’s degree in Fire Science from the Community College of the Air Force and a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, with a minor in health science, from South Dakota State University in Brookings. Employed by Rapid City Regional Hospital since 2009, he started out working in the medical facility’s Progressive Care Unit. Outside of his professional pursuits, George Sazama enjoys various outdoor sports, including hunting.