Rick Sheehy, 45, was appointed Lieutenant Governor by Nebraska’s 39th Governor, Dave Heineman, and was sworn into office on January 24, 2005. Sheehy’s selection came just days after Heineman became the first Governor in 45 years to become the state’s chief executive by operation of state law when then-Governor Mike Johanns resigned to become the Secretary of Agriculture.

A native of Hastings, Sheehy graduated from St. Cecilia High School. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and later received certification as a paramedic from Central Community College. Sheehy worked for Rural/Metro Ambulance for more than 20 years, starting in 1982 as an emergency medical technician. He became Rural/Metro’s paramedic field supervisor two years later, and the market general manager in 1987, a position he held until his appointment as Lt. Governor.

Sheehy has a long history of public service. He was twice elected Mayor of Hastings beginning in 2000. Before becoming Mayor, Sheehy served six years on the Hastings City Council, including four years as president of the council. He is a former chair of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Hastings Sertoma Club. Lt. Governor Sheehy is a past board member of the Nebraska Rural Health Association, Hastings YMCA, and the local Housing Authority Board, as well as past member of the National League of Cities Public Safety Crime Prevention Committee and a FEMA Disaster Response Team member.

Sheehy’s community involvement includes membership in the Nebraska Rural Health Association, Nebraska State Trauma Advisory Board, Nebraska Emergency Medical Services Board, Mary Lanning Hospital Foundation Board, Crane Meadows Board of Directors, Cottonwood Festival Executive Committee, and the Hastings Noon Rotary.

As Lt. Governor, Sheehy serves as Nebraska’s director of homeland security, chairman of the Nebraska Information Technology Commission, presiding officer of the Nebraska Legislature, and is involved in economic development efforts across the state. His experience as a local elected official and as a paramedic, make him uniquely suited to the challenge of coordinating Nebraska’s statewide homeland security efforts.

He and his wife of more than 20 years, Connie, have two children. Maggie, 19, attends Doane College and Joel, age 15, is a sophomore at St. Cecilia High School. Connie is a Lexington native who works as a Radiology Technician for Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings.