US Special Rescue, a private company which provides advanced training in special needs emergency response, announces the addition of Executive Board Members.
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, March 4, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — US Special Rescue, a private company which provides advanced and specialized training to first responder organizations, announces the addition of two Executive Members of the Board of Directors.
US Special Rescue provides expert training programs to public and private emergency responders. The company’s focus is identification, search, and rescue of medically complex victims living with severe special needs. There is currently limited to no training in emergency response protocols to prepare frontline workers in rescue operations for severely disabled victims during and after catastrophic emergencies.
CEO Luke Rosen says, “US Special Rescue fills a gap in specialized first responder training. Our country completely lacks first response training to serve the most vulnerable community members. If you rely on a power chair; use assistive breathing and communication devices; are on a timed medication regiment; are non-verbal; live with epilepsy; cerebral palsy; spinal muscular atrophy; Parkinson’s; ALS; dementia; autism; a rare disease… you’re on your own. The majority of today’s emergency response teams lack specialized training to keep people with special needs safe from acute and chronic life-threatening disasters. That ends today.”
According to the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, approximately 70 million Americans live with a disability. The CDC reports one in four adults having a disability. “It’s a shocking statistic: one in four people (not including children) are likely to be left behind in a life-threatening emergency because our first responders aren’t provided with critical training to serve EVERY community member. The brave women and men who put their lives on the line daily are not equipped to save the lives of 70 million victims. Victims that we, as first responders, vow to protect,” says Rosen. “First responders want this training; they need this training, and we’re going to give it to them.”
Rosen is a New York State firefighter specializing in emergency response to structural fires and natural disasters. He has led SAR Teams in various operations, including the 2025 Los Angeles Fires, Florida Hurricanes, and natural disasters around the globe. In 2023, Rosen led a team which successfully provided aid to patients in the Ukraine. For that work he received the Ukraine Healthcare Institute Award for Personal Commitment and Invaluable Aid to Ukrainian Patients with Rare Diseases. US Special Rescue is a team of expert instructors with decades of experience across multiple industries including fire service, law enforcement, military, nonprofit, biotechnology, and urban search and rescue (USAR) task forces.
Dr. Wendy Chung, Chief of Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, is an expert in clinical care for individuals living with severe special needs. Dr. Chung adds: “During times of crisis and emergency response, families with complex medical conditions require specialized support. This important training to serve special needs populations is sorely needed on the front lines when safety matters. This program is critical during critical emergency response for vulnerable patients.”
US Special Rescue utilizes novel digital and hands-on tools to provide advanced instruction to first responders. The company’s staff includes clinicians, policymakers, advocates, and patient leaders. Each member of the team brings unique skillsets to emergency response and life-saving operations. Key instructors are individuals living with medical complexities who are experts in their own health and what it takes to perform a specialized rescue. According to Tasha Barnes, a US Special Rescue Senior Instructor who lives with Parkinson’s Disease, “Communities should know that our instructors are people who actually live with conditions that are outside the sphere of conventional emergency response training. Only experts can provide expert training. That’s what makes this organization different. That’s what makes this organization an urgent necessity.”
Rosen adds, “Inclusive training systems during emergencies is a major unmet need. Now more than ever our rescue teams must be prepared to support every community member in life-or-death emergency situations. Our staff brings over 200 combined years of experience in the field. Each member of our team has a purpose-driven passion to ensure the most vulnerable communities are a priority when disaster strikes.”
US Special Rescue is led by professionals who are touched by their own experiences and are affected by severe and often rare conditions. “This is personal for me, for my partners, our Board of Directors, and for members of every community. I’m incredibly grateful to these Executive Board Members for answering the call with urgency. I’m proud to work with Paul Compton and Ryan Toben. Paul and Ryan are people with deep integrity; selfless leaders committed to creating an inclusive and safe world.”
Today the company announces addition of two Executive Board Members. Paul Compton and Ryan Toben add personal experience and professional leadership to guide strategy and organization infrastructure.
Paul Compton brings decades of experience as an executive leader in the financial services industry and currently serves as the Chairman of Investment Banking at Barclays. Mr. Compton shares, “As the father of a severely disabled child, this mission is profoundly personal. I consider it a privilege to join the Board and work with Luke and his team as they address a critical global need.”
Ryan Toben is Chief Customer Officer at RSA Security, a company providing solutions for digital security with modern authentication, lifecycle management, and identity governance. Mr. Toben brings years of executive experience in revenue growth for major companies in global markets. On joining the Executive Board of Directors, Toben says, “I’m excited to support US Special Rescue because they equip our first responders with the expertise to serve neighbors with mobility and cognitive challenges. By empowering heroes to care for the one in four needing extra consideration, we create a safer, more inclusive community.”
Katie Murphy
US Special Rescue
email us here
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability
for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this
article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
