FCFRD News Blog : #MeetFCFRD: Lieutenant Javier Santa Gadea

Press release from the FCFRD News Blog:

September 29, 2021

Growing up in Callao, Peru, Lieutenant Santa Gadea never considered a career in the fire and rescue service. This, despite the fact his father had served as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic. 

As a child, Lieutenant Santa Gadea and his family frequently visited family in the Washington-Metropolitan area. He loved these visits and, eventually, expressed that he wanted his family to live in the United States. His family was highly supportive, and his parents began the process of arranging to move the family to the U.S. In 2000, the family obtained their green cards and moved to the United States. Lieutenant Santa Gadea was 15 years old. To this day, Lieutenant Santa Gadea is amazed and grateful that his parents agreed to leave everything they knew behind to provide a better life for their family.

The transition was not always easy. Though he excelled at math, he struggled with the transition to English. His mother was an English teacher who helped and supported her son as he learned the language. However, his struggle made Lieutenant Santa Gadea feel isolated, forcing him to make friends that would often make the wrong decision. 

A turning point came his Junior year at Fairfax High School when he learned he was required to do a community service project. Reflecting on his dad’s service as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic in Peru, Lieutenant Santa Gadea decided to join the City of Fairfax Volunteer Fire Department. He started training and soon found himself spending every Friday night and weekends hanging out at the fire station. He is grateful to the City of Fairfax Fire Department’s career staff, especially Assistant Chief Andy Vita and Captain (ret) Joe Schumacher, who mentored him. Lieutenant Santa Gadea feels strongly that the volunteer fire department experience set him on a different path.

Lt. Santa Gadea realized he liked the atmosphere and family aspect of the fire and rescue department and decided to make it a career. He was hired as a member of FCFRD Recruit School 120 in September 2006. His first assignment out of recruit school was Fire Station 10, Bailey’s Crossroads. He was promoted to Technician in 2012, Master Technician in 2015, and his current role as a Lieutenant in 2017.

In 2019, Lieutenant Santa Gadea applied for and was selected to join the Office of the Fire Marshall Fire Investigations Branch. As part of his training, he attended and graduated from the Fairfax County Police Department Academy. He loved the different challenges that each opportunity has provided. Lieutenant Santa Gadea is looking forward to taking the Captain’s promotional exam next year. He sets career goals in five-year increments and is excited about the future.

Lieutenant Santa Gadea is married and has two children.

Have you wondered what it would be like to #JoinTeamFCFRD? Contact our recruiters at fire.recruitment@fairfaxcounty.gov or (703) 246-3939 to learn more about a career.

This press release was produced by the FCFRD News Blog. The views expressed here are the author’s own.