Fairfax County Fire Chief John Butler To Lead Fire Chiefs Association

KANSAS CITY, MO — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Chief John Butler was installed as the new president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, during a Friday morning ceremony at Fire-Rescue International 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. As IAFC president, Butler will chair the organization's board of directors, according to a release.

Chief Mary Beth Michos, who works on contract to IAFC and runs the Fire Service Executive Development Institute in Fairfax County, oversaw Butler's installation. She also swore in 1st Vice President Chief Josh Waldo, Bozeman (MT) Fire Department; 2nd Vice President Trisha Wolford, Anne Arundel County (MD) Fire Department; and Treasurer Chief Steven Locke, South Burlington (VT) Fire Department.

“We must not lose sight of the need to be vigilant about building and sustaining healthy organizational cultures, strengthened by behavioral best practices, in which everyone can thrive," Butler said to attendees at the conference's final session. “The Association frames its relationship with the membership and related organizations based on four goals – Lead, Educate, Serve, and Include. ... We all have the power to build inclusive teams, inclusive organizations.”

Butler was appointed as the new chief of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department's on July 10, 2018, following the retirement of former Chief Richard Bowers, according to his official biography.

Previously, Butler had served as the chief of the Howard County (MD) Department of Fire and Rescue, starting in 2014.

Joining Howard County fire and rescue as a firefighter-paramedic in 1993, Butler worked his way up through the ranks, serving in a variety of roles, including bastion chief, emergency medical services chief and administrative chief. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 21 years, including two combat tours.