John Butler, Fire Chief, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department
John S. Butler has been the Fire Chief for the Fairfax County (VA) Fire and Rescue Department since September 2018. He formerly served as the first internal fire chief for Howard County (MD) Department of Fire and Rescue Services and was the first chief to have held every rank within that department. He is an active paramedic and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Baltimore, a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University, and certificates from Harvard University, the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, and the Fire Service Executive Development Institute. Chief Butler serves as the International Association of Fire Chiefs President and Board Chair; holds the Chief Fire Officer, Chief EMS Officer, Chief Training Officer, and Fire Marshal designations awarded from the Commission on Professional Credentialing; is a member of the National Fire Academy Board of Visitors; is a board member of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association; and is a commissioner with the Commission of Fire Accreditation International. He is a retired U.S. Marine with 20 years of active and reserve service, including two combat tours.