March 28, 2023  – Paul Buta has been named Assistant Vice President of Security Operations for the multi-hospital Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) system.

Buta, who served 20 years with the United States Secret Service protecting and serving elected officials, has been the Executive Director of Security Operations and has headed advancements to security for the ARH system since August 2021.

“We are thankful for Paul’s vast knowledge, skills, and leadership, especially during the times of crisis such as those our communities faced in the past year,” said ARH President and CEO Hollie Harris Phillips. “Paul’s level of security expertise has significantly advanced ARH’s comprehensive security operations across the system and will continue to make our ARH facilities safer for our employees, patients, and visitors.”

During the devastating floods that ravaged Eastern Kentucky last summer, Buta served as ARH’s Crisis Response Leader and was instrumental in launching ARH’s incident command center and the immediate strategic mobilization of relief efforts for victims. By the end of last year, ARH’s relief efforts had helped more than 20,000 individuals and over 5,500 households and resulted in 6.5 million pounds or 3,250 tons of supplies sent to ARH distribution centers and out into the hardest-hit communities of Eastern Kentucky.

“Being designated the Crisis Response Team Leader was a great responsibility. My unique background within the Marine Corps and Secret Service suited me well for this assignment to organize a strong team that exceeded everyone’s expectations,” Buta said. “Our motto in the Marine Corps “Order from Chaos” and many of the assignments throughout my career from Africa to Southwest Asia assisted our team with this humanitarian crisis intervention.”

As ARH AVP of Security Operations, Buta will continue to oversee all safety and security functions for ARH.

“I am so appreciative of the opportunities presented by ARH to make a difference in the lives of the people in Eastern Kentucky,” Buta said. “In continuing my effort to make a difference at ARH, we strive to improve security across the system for our patients, employees, and visitors.”

Buta has been a leader and coordinator of security teams and implementing security protocols throughout his career.

Before joining ARH, Buta worked at the U.S. Secret Service Lexington Resident Office for three years on current cyber threats and trends to critical infrastructure, networks, and systems. He assisted potential victims as a Network Intrusion Response Agent (NITRO) by performing forensic analysis to determine if their networks or systems had unauthorized intrusions or breaches.

Buta is also a retired United States Marine Corps officer. He is a combat-wounded veteran and recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, which he earned during his deployment to Afghanistan.

Throughout his career, Buta received many awards, including the Department of Homeland Security Secretary’s Award for Valor; the United States Secret Service Directors Award for Valor; the Anne Arundel County, Maryland Police Department Silver Star Award and Purple Heart Award; the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF): September Officer of the Month (2007); Association of Former Agents of the U.S. Secret Service (first ever) Distinguished Service Award and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) 2007 Award for Bravery.

Buta received his Juris Doctorate from Saint Thomas University School of Law in Miami, Fla., and completed his Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Florida International University in Miami, Fla.