Colonel John Gerald Hulet, USA (Ret)

Colonel John G. “Jack” Hulet, USA (Ret) passed away on December 30, 2025, at the age of 83, following a lengthy illness. Jean, his loving wife of 43 years, was at his side.

Throughout his lifetime, Jack has positively touched so many lives. Be it teaching ROTC cadets how to be outstanding officers, mentoring less experienced military who served beside him, encouraging Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students to provide the best care to their patients, or encouraging his wife to take the next step in her career despite how difficult the challenge may have been, Jack was always there to help, encourage, and mentor. His favorite phrase with his EMT students when they were not giving it all they had was, “you can’t cure stupid”.

Born in Pottsville, PA in 1942, Jack began his military career in January 1968 as an enlisted Private (E1). He retired in October 1996 from the Pentagon at the rank of Colonel (06) and was immediately recalled to active duty by the Army G-1, Major General Timothy Maude who was tragically killed on 9/11. As General Maude’s special assistant to the director of military personnel and policy, Jack’s recommendations affected the career management of more than 750,000 Army Reservists. As a retiree recall, Jack was on duty at the Pentagon in the Army G1 section on September 11, 2001. While many of his coworkers died, Jack’s life was spared. He was one of the initial first responders on the scene that day, providing medical aid to the many injured when terrorists crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon.

Always a strong advocate for volunteer fire and Emergency Medical Service (EMS), Jack began volunteering at his hometown fire company, Yorkville Hose Volunteer Fire Company, Pottsville, PA in 1964 where he was a life member. During his volunteer career with Yorkville, Jack became a licensed EMT-B. Starting with his time at Yorkville, Jack has dedicated over 50 years of his life to emergency medical services.

In the early 1980s, the Army moved Jack to the Philadelphia, PA area. While assigned to the 79th Army Reserve Command in Willow Grove, PA and then Drexel University ROTC, Philadelphia, PA, Jack joined the Manoa Volunteer Fire Company in Havertown, PA where he volunteered evenings on the company’s Basic Life Support (BLS) unit. At the same time, he completed a master’s degree equivalent program with the National Defense University, Washington, DC, never compromising his EMS volunteer role. Certified as a NREMT-B and an EMT instructor by the Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Emergency Health Services, Jack also began teaching EMT-B in the Philadelphia, PA area.

When the Army transferred Jack to Fort Meade, MD and then the Pentagon, Jack became affiliated with Maryland EMS, serving as a BLS unit EMT, and then an EMT instructor. He initially joined Ferndale Volunteer Fire Company where he volunteered on the BLS unit at least one night a week for many years. After a 10 or more-hour day at the Pentagon, he would get off the MARC train and go directly to the fire station on his duty nights where he volunteered religiously for several hours. During this time, he also completed a second master’s degree equivalent program, graduating with the designation distinguished graduate from the Naval War College in Annapolis. Jack later transferred his affiliation from Ferndale to Odenton Volunteer Fire Company where he was a life member. While at Odenton, Jack was part of the Saturday night ambulance crew for several years. He had excellent patient care skills and compassion, which led him to become a Maryland EMS instructor, instructor mentor, and instructor evaluator for the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. He served several years as the EMS coordinator for the Maryland Renaissance Festival. He contributed many hours to developing EMS training videos, textbooks, presentations, and practical scenarios.

With an unending dedication to EMS, Jack was provided a once in a lifetime opportunity by the All-American Environment Services & HAZMAT Institute to serve as a senior instructor trainer for BOMBA, the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia. While there he taught a full EMT course to the Malaysian firefighters and then returned to Malaysia to teach an EMT instructor course. Throughout his Maryland EMS career, Jack was associated with several Fire and EMS organizations including: the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications; Maryland State Firefighters Association (MSFA); Anne Arundel Community College EMT faculty; Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association; Anne Arundel County Fire Department BLS Training Center; National Association of EMS Educators; International Association of Fire Chiefs; National Association of Emergency Medical Service Educators; Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute; American Heart Association; Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS), MIEMSS Pediatric Emergency Medical Advisory Committee; Maryland Pediatric Education for pre-hospital providers steering committee; MIEMSS BLS Committee; and several other MIEMSS committees.

In 2024, Jack was inducted into the MSFA Hall of Fame. He played a key role in Emergency Medical Services delivery, education, and policy across Maryland for nearly 20 years. His other recognitions include the Leon W. Hayes Award for Excellence in EMS, Francis L. Brannigan Instructor of the Year Award; American Red Cross Hometown Heroes Award / Firefighter Award; Anne Arundel County 100 Club Firefighter / EMT-B Award: Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce Firefighter of the Year; Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association Hall of Fame; and top responder and outstanding service awards from multiple fire companies throughout his career. After many years of teaching CPR, EMT-B courses, and select classes for MFRI, Anne Arundel Community College, and Anne Arundel Fire Department career classes, Jack continued to mentor EMT-B students, serve on several committees and panels at MIEMSS, and write EMT-B practical examination scenarios. He continued to serve as a MIEMSS coordinator and evaluator for state practical examinations, and as a support instructor for EMT-B, Protocol Updates, EMT Refresher Training, and CPR for as long as his health would allow.

Heartfelt gratitude to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department career stations 4, 21, 26, and 33 as well as the Anne Arundel Mobile Integrated Community Health program for their professionalism, dedicated support, and quick response to meet his emergent needs over the past few years. Sincerest appreciation to Visiting Angels for their exceptional care during his time of need and the ER and ICU doctors and nurses at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital for their unstoppable efforts to try and save his life. Unending gratitude to his dearest friend Del Haley who never let him down.

In addition to his wife, Colonel Jean M. Hulet, USA (Ret), Jack is survived by his loving feline family, Rudy, Olivia and Sniper, as well as a daughter, Jill Sottile, Pennsylvania, and granddaughter Katie Sottile, Massachusetts. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, John and Anna (Becker) Hulet of Pottsville, PA.

Memorial contributions in Jack’s honor may be made to the Anne Arundel Professional Firefighters Burn Foundation at aacoffburnfoundation.com, or the Park Heights Animal Welfare Group at https://www.baltimorecats.org/privacy-policy or by check mailed to The Feline Rescue Association, Inc., 10999 Red Run Blvd, Ste 205, Box 296, Owings Mills, MD 21117. Internment with full military honors will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.