Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
4100 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703-246-3801, TTY: 711 and Fax:703-385-1687
Duty PIO (Weekends/After-hours): 703-280-0694
Media Information Line: 703-324-3000
Email: fire-rescue.PIO-LSE@fairfaxcounty.gov
Website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire

04/24/2007

121st Recruit Firefighter Graduation

Since December 2006, recruit firefighters from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department have been training to respond to hazardous materials incidents, vehicle extrication operations, swift water emergencies, confined space rescue, fire suppression, and emergency medical incidents. The 20-week recruit firefighter/EMT course is both physically and mentally strenuous. Firefighter recruits will officially become professional firefighter/EMT’s upon graduation.

Willie G. Shelton, Jr., Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) will be the keynote speaker. In 2006, Willie G. Shelton, Jr. was appointed by Governor Tim Kaine to serve as Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs. He is responsible for the strategic planning, coordination of statewide training and education programs, and a $26 million annual budget.

Shelton started with VDFP in September 2000, serving as VDFP’s Branch Chief for Training and Technical Services, managing the Aircraft Rescue Firefighting, Virginia Fire Marshal Academy, Heavy Tactical Rescue, National Interagency Incident Management System, Logistics, and Quality Assurance programs. Before coming to work at VDFP, he served as Fire Chief at Fort Belvoir, Fire Prevention and Protection Division for 30 years.

He is a graduate student of the University of Mary Washington College with the degree of Bachelor of Liberal Studies in Business Administration, and currently enrolled in the Master Program (MBA). He also holds three Associate and Applied Science degrees in Fire Administration, Fire Management, and Fire Investigation from Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, Virginia.

For more information, call Daniel L. Schmidt or Lieutenant Raúl G. Castillo, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, 703-246-3801 and TTY 711. Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.