One of the goals of this manuscript is to celebrate the influential and productive careers of three leaders in Emergency Medical Systems: Drs. James Mills, R Adams Cowley, and David Boyd. Through his courageous efforts, Dr. James Mills established the specialty of emergency medicine, with its own educational training programs, credentialing process, as well as a recognized society, the American College of Emergency Physicians. Dr. R Adams Cowley was the preeminent leader in developing an organized approach in trauma care in the State of Maryland, with the creation of the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Many of the components of his comprehensive trauma program in the State of Maryland have been replicated in every state in our nation. Dr. David Boyd championed the development of emergency medical systems throughout our nation as he served as Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Service Systems in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Under the guidance of Drs. Mills, Cowley, and Boyd, Dr. Edlich was a leader in developing emergency medical systems in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unlike the comprehensive trauma system in the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as other states in our nation, still lack statewide helicopter aviation services that bring critically ill patients throughout the state from the scene of injury to separate and distinct trauma facilities in which life saving trauma care can be initiated without admission to an emergency department.