From Fresh Start to First Responder: Gary Cozad’s Path Through CSN

Three years ago, Gary Cozad left Northern California looking for a fresh start. He found one at the College of Southern Nevada.

Cozad recently completed CSN’s Advanced EMT program with a 3.88 GPA, earning the distinction of class valedictorian. He’s now preparing for his state licensing exam and has already enrolled in CSN’s Paramedic Medicine Program for fall 2026. In the meantime, he’s completed a firefighter academy and is awaiting openings with municipalities in Las Vegas and Mesquite.

It’s a remarkable trajectory for someone who arrived in Nevada without a clear direction, carrying the weight of years of personal struggle.

Before coming to CSN, Cozad spent years in the workforce in very different fields. He worked as an air traffic controller for the federal government and before that in the technology sector in Silicon Valley. But alongside those careers, he was quietly fighting a battle with addiction that went unaddressed for a long time.

“He was open about that,” said the Resilient for Nevada team, who connected Cozad with the resources and support he needed to move forward. “And he wanted others to know that transformation is possible.”

What made the difference, Cozad says, was a combination of faith, determination, and the right support system. The Resilient for Nevada Grant covered his tuition, uniforms, and textbooks, removing financial barriers that might have kept him from completing the program. Partners like EmployNV, Foundation for Recovery, and the L.I.M.A. program helped him stay grounded throughout the process.

CSN’s program gave him more than credentials. He pointed to the hands-on clinical training, access to industry professionals, and real-world medical experience as the foundation he needed to enter emergency medical services with confidence.

Now, Cozad gives back the same way others gave to him. He mentors people dealing with addiction and recovery, drawing on his own story to show what’s possible on the other side of hardship.

His message for anyone who might be where he once was? That a meaningful second act is within reach, and that the right education, at the right time, with the right support, can change everything.

CSN’s Resilient for Nevada program is designed to help Nevadans overcome barriers to workforce entry through training, wraparound services, and community partnerships. To learn more, visit csn.edu.