Fairfax County has ranked 1st place among America's top ten in the 2023 Digital Counties Survey by The Center for Digital Government in partnership with National Association of Counties (NACo). The survey identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that streamline delivery of government services; encourage open data, collaboration, and shared services; enhance cybersecurity; and contribute to disaster response and recovery efforts. Fairfax County received first place honors in the competition for jurisdictions with populations of 1,000,000 or greater. Fairfax County has often been ranked in the top ten as a technical innovator over the last 20 years, in the top five for 10 consecutive years and earning first place four times. See more information regarding the survey and full list of winners.
Fairfax County has ranked 2nd among America's top ten in the 2022 Digital Counties Survey by The Center for Digital Government in partnership with National Association of Counties (NACo). The survey identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that streamline delivery of government services; encourage open data, collaboration, and shared services; enhance cybersecurity; and contribute to disaster response and recovery efforts. Fairfax County received second place honors in the competition for jurisdictions with populations of 1,000,000 or greater. Fairfax County has often been ranked in the top ten as a technical innovator over the last 19 years, in the top five for nine consecutive years and earning first place three times. See more information regarding the survey and full list of winners.
Fairfax County has ranked 5th among America's top ten in the 2021 Digital Counties Survey by The Center for Digital Government in partnership with National Association of Counties (NACo). The survey identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that streamline delivery of government services; encourage open data, collaboration, and shared services; enhance cybersecurity; and contribute to disaster response and recovery efforts. Fairfax County received fifth place honors in the competition for jurisdictions with populations of 1,000,000 or greater. Fairfax County has often been ranked in the top ten as a technical innovator over the last 18 years, in the top five for eight consecutive years and earning first place three times.
Fairfax County has been ranked among America's top ten in the 2020 Digital Counties Survey in the United States by The Center for Digital Government in partnership with National Association of Counties (NACo). The survey identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that: streamline delivery of government services, encourage open data, collaboration and shared services, enhance cyber security and contribute to disaster response and recovery efforts. Fairfax County tied for tenth place honors in the competition for jurisdictions with populations of 1,000,000 or greater. Fairfax County has often been ranked in the top ten as a technical innovator over the last 17 years, in the top five for eight consecutive years and earning first place three times.
Fairfax County was honored with the Governor's Technology Awards in the category "IT as Efficiency Driver - Government to Government" at the 2019 Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium (COVITS). The Medallion Web Mapping Apions enhance capital improvement planning and targets service delivery in Health and Human Services (HHS) within Fairfax County. This compilation of mapping applications provides for the first time, consistent, detailed, sub-county leplicatvel data for HHS staff to analyze how environmental conditions impact service demands for specified communities.
Medallion transforms disparate data into actionable information. It also provides a common data set to support collaboration and coordination with the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to foster improvements in the design phase and better define infrastructure needs based on demographic, economic, and other social characteristics.
In September, the Center for Digital Government announced winners of the annual Government Experience Awards, honoring U.S. governments who are offering citizens increasingly sophisticated digital user experiences. Fairfax County finished as an Overall Finalist in the Government Experience Awards. The awards recognize the achievements and best practices of states, cities and counties that have gone to the web and beyond to radically improve the experience of government and push the boundaries of how citizen services are delivered. Chief Innovation Officer for the Center for Digital Government, stated the “Government Experience Awards winners have well-designed websites and innovative channels that provide citizens meaningful information and services, robust data integration and an exceptional user experience.”
Top government jurisdictions, agencies and departments will be honored at an awards event in Austin, Texas.
Fairfax County was received three 2018 Solutions Awards in the national competition sponsored by Public Technology Institute (PTI). The county was recognized in the following categories:
- GIS - NCR Regional GIS Data NG9-1-1 Preparation Project,
- Public Safety and Emergency Management, Community Resiliency - Locally-managed Identity Management Solution for Public Safety in the National Capital Region and
- Significant Achievement – Web - Leveraging Open Source Web Content Management System (CMS) Offers Unlimited Opportunities.
In September 2018, Governor Ralph Northam recognized Virginia government entities that have improved the delivery and efficiency of government service at the Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium (COVITS). Winners from state agencies, localities and educational institutions were named in nine categories as judged by a panel of Virginia government information technology (IT) experts.
“With these awards, we honor the innovative ways that state and local government and universities are using technology to solve problems, increase efficiency and reduce costs,” said Governor Northam. Secretary of Administration, Keyanna Conner, stated “Each winner has used information technology to improve how we provide services. Their stories are now models for us.” Fairfax County was received the 2018 Virginia Governor’s Technology Awards winners, in the following areas:
- IT as Efficiency Driver – Government To Business for the Countywide FOIA Office and
- Best Cybersecurity Initiative – Next Generation Cybersecurity.
Fairfax County has been ranked among America's top three in the 2018 Digital Counties Survey in the United States by The Center for Digital Government in partnership with National Association of Counties (NACo). The survey identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that: streamline delivery of government services, encourage open data, collaboration and shared services, enhance cyber security and contribute to disaster response and recovery efforts. Fairfax County received third place honors in the competition for jurisdictions with populations of 1,000,000 or greater. Fairfax County has been ranked in the top ten as a technical innovator for fifteen years, in the top five for eight consecutive years and earning first place three times during this span.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) awarded Fairfax County a 2018 Achievement Award for "Taking a Citizen First Approach to a Website Redesign" in the category of Civic Education and Public Information - for its newly reimaged Fairfax County Website. Fairfax is the largest locality in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Fairfax County website supports the County's goal of a "government without walls, doors, or clocks" providing essential information, services and about 125 online services. The website has a requirement of corralling the content from about 54 governmental departments and offices and presenting it in an intuitive way that doesn't require the site visitor to be familiar with the structure of the County's government. The redesigned Fairfax County Website demonstrates how cooperation, technology, and design can bring the strengths of modern web applications to bear upon the needs of a wide array of users. This strong investment in the highest standard of website design will surely deliver for years to come.
The NACo Achievement Awards will be presented in July at NACo’s Annual Conference and Exposition in Nashville, Tennessee.
Fairfax County Website received two “Award of Distinction” awards from Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts (AIVA) for “Overall Government Website” and for the County “Website Redesign Project”. The Award of Distinction is presented for projects that exceed industry standards in quality and achievement.
Founded over two decades ago, The Communicator Awards receives over 6,000 entries from companies and agencies of all sizes, making it one of the largest awards of its kind in the world. The Communicator Awards honors work that transcends innovation and craft – work that made a lasting impact, providing an equal chance of winning to all entrants regardless of company or agency size and project budget. If your work moved people, we want to give it a chance to take home a Communicator. The Communicator Awards is the leading international awards program recognizing big ideas in marketing and communications.
The Hermes Creative Awards is a 20 year-old worldwide competition for creative professionals. The competition is comprised of two hundred categories under three umbrella categories: Print Media, Public Relations and Electronic Media. With over 200K lifetime entries, Fairfax County received the Gold Award for the Website Redesign under the Electronic Media category.
County Awarded for Innovative Use of Open Data: Fairfax County has been honored again for innovation with the 2017 Governor's Technology Award for innovative use of big data and analytics in recognition of the county's Democrating Open Data program, which aims to make open data more accessible to the public. Receiving the award on behalf of Fairfax County were Chief Technology Officer and Department of Information Technology Director Wanda Gibson and Anne Cahill, manager of economic, demographic and statistical research. Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson and Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth Nelson Moe presented the award on behalf of Governor Terry McAuliffe at a special ceremony at the Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium (COVITS) in Richmond on Sept. 6.
The primary goal of the county's Democratizing Open Data program is to make open data usable through powerful, yet intuitive, interfaces. County businesses, community based organizations and residents often seek information to inform them about demographic and economic changes occurring in Fairfax County. The Governor’s Technology Awards program recognizes public sector information technology (IT) projects that have improved government service delivery and efficiency. Winners are determined by a panel of government IT experts.
Information Technology Award for Citizen Engagement, Data Sharing and Security: Fairfax County was again honored as a technical innovator, placing fifth nationally among counties of its size in the annual Digital Counties Survey. Fairfax County has been ranked in the top five for seven consecutive years, earning first place two times during this span. The evaluation and awards are given through a partnership between the National Association of Counties, Government Technology magazine and the Center for Digital Government (CDG). Wanda Gibson, Chief Technology Officer and Director of the Department of Information Technology, credits "our county leadership for embracing technology, allowing us to successfully navigate economic, demographic and fiscal challenges. We emphasize agility, flexibility and scalability to meet both current and future strategic initiatives.”
The county was recognized for achievements in citizen engagement, regional cooperation and security including:
- The county was recognized for achievements in citizen engagement, regional cooperation and security including:
- An artificial intelligence-based endpoint security system, as well as a new security information and events management system. The inclusion of machine learning allows the county to keep pace with new and emerging threats.
- The county social media strategy, providing guidance for all agencies to further engage their clients.
- Serving over 19 million visits to the government’s website.
- Leading and coordinating interoperable communications initiatives, including a regional geo-spatial data exchange that involves 23 other governments.
The Digital Counties Survey winners were chosen based on their work to innovate, improve transparency and proactively address citizen demands and expectations.
The Integrated Justice Information Systems (IJIS) Institute 2017 Innovation Award was presented to Fairfax County’s Broadband Interoperability Team under the leadership of Mike Newburn, DIT’s Communications Technology Manager. The Innovation Award recognizes technical innovation that has contributed significantly to the advancement of integration and interoperability in a justice, public safety, or homeland security project or program. Mike Newburn also received the 2017 Honorable Mention award for excellence and innovation.
Received the Virginia Association of Counties 2017 Achievement Award in the category of Information Technology for Mobile Connected Courtrooms. Fairfax County Courts and DIT’s Courtroom Technology Office, researched, designed and implemented a new digital courtroom platform to allow users to wirelessly connect their personal devices to the existing courtroom evidence presentation system, known as CTMS (Courtroom Technology Management System).
Fairfax County was named second place winner in the 14th annual 2016 Digital Counties Survey. The survey, conducted by in the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the Digital Communities program in partnership with National Association of Counties (NACo), identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that save tax dollars through newfound efficiencies; boost transparency, cybersecurity and engagement; or innovate through unique and exciting projects. The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute focused on technology policy and best practices in state and local government. CDG is a division of e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education.The National Association of Counties unites America’s 3,069 county governments. Founded in 1935, NACo brings county officials together to advocate with a collective voice on national policy, exchange ideas and build new leadership skills, pursue transformational county solutions, enrich the public’s understanding of county government and exercise exemplary leadership in public service.
Fairfax County received second place honors in the 500,000 or more population category, and was recognized as a perennially high-achieving county which relies on agile development, flexible technology infrastructure and strong governance to align IT strategies with overall county business objectives — and this alignment is critical as the county cites continued resource challenges. The county was also acknowledged for giving citizen communication and engagement top priority with the launch of NewsCenter and MyFairfax portal along with Fairfax County's leading role in the National Capital Region Interoperable Communications Infrastructure program. Winners were chosen based on their work to innovate, improve transparency and proactively address citizen demands and expectations.
The Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties (NACo) which identifies best technology practices among U.S. counties ranked Fairfax County at first place in the 2015 Digital Counties Survey as an adaptive IT leader, collaborator and arbiter of the public trust. The annual survey recognizes leading examples of counties using technology to improve services and boost efficiencies. Fairfax County was the top winner in the 500,000 or more population category, where notable programs included the county’s big data and open data initiatives, transparent budgeting process, NCRnet interoperability portal which includes identity management and data exchange, a comprehensive IT strategic plan, disaster recovery and resiliency strategies and technology governance. Winners were chosen based on their understanding of the transformational value of technology and those that had made the investments needed to improve services and efficiency across all facets of their organizations.
Fairfax County won the prestigious 2014 Governor’s Technology Award at COVITS (Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium in two categories: “IT as an Efficiency Driver - Government to Citizen” for “Paying Taxes using your Smartphone Mobile Applications, and Tax Bill QR Codes” and “Cross-Boundary Collaboration” for “National Capital Region Identity and Access Management Service (IAMS)”. Winners in their respective categories were determined by a panel of 12 state, county, city and education judges.
“Paying Taxes using Smartphone Mobile Applications and Tax Bill QR Codes” support Fairfax County's continuing mobile initiative. Multiple Department of Tax Administration's (DTA) applications were made accessible via the Fairfax County mobile app. The Car Tax "mobile" and Real Estate "mobile" applications allow Fairfax County residents to pay their taxes safely and securely using a credit /debit card or an electronic check – wirelessly via a smartphone. Department of Information Technology also coordinated the effort to print and display QR codes on DTA's Car Tax bills and Real Estate bills, and thousands of mobile payment transactions are already being received and processed successfully during the Car Tax and Real Estate Tax seasons. In addition, a new Tax Evader mobile app now allows county residents and DTA tax compliance staff to instantly report the out-of-state license plate for any vehicle suspected of being permanently parked in the County. The official Fairfax County Government mobile app is available to download for free on Apple’s iTunes store, Google Play store as well as from links through the County website.
The National Capital Region “Identity and Access Management Service (IAMS)” is an interoperable, authentication service providing secure access to applications and data for 50,000 authorized end users in the National Capital Region (NCR), which includes thirteen (13) localities in Northern Virginia supporting public safety and emergency response functions. IAMS integrates existing, independent data repositories using accepted industry protocols to allow end users to present one identifier (e.g. email address) and password, managed by their respective organization, to access regional applications and data. IAMS also supports registration by users external to the localities such as state and federal entities. This shared service effectively eliminates the need for applications to manage individual sets of usernames, passwords, and potentially permissions. Additional applications are in the pipeline, and the capability can also be made available to appropriate state and federal entities.
Fairfax County was ranked among America's top five in the 2014 Digital Counties Survey by The Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties (NACo) which recognizes leading examples of counties using technology to improve services and boost efficiencies. Winners were chosen based on their best practices and effective uses of technology to better serve their communities. Fairfax County received third place honors in the competition for jurisdictions with populations of 500,000 or greater for governance and management practices, innovations and overall significance to excellence in public service.
The Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties (NACo) ranked Fairfax County among America's top five in the 2013 Digital Counties Survey which recognizes leading examples of counties using information and communications technology and chose winners that overcame tough fiscal barriers to improve government services and efficiency. Fairfax County received third place honors in the competition for jurisdictions with populations of 500,000 or greater for finding ways to provide better information security, transparency, and citizen engagement with innovative uses of social media and advanced decision support tools.
Fairfax County was among 11 winners throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia selected in the VACo (Virginia Association of Counties) 2012 Achievement Awards Program for "Court Technology Model: Coordinated County and Courts" project. The VACo Achievement Awards is a competitive program open to local government members of the association. Held annually, it recognizes local government programs in awards criteria that include innovation, cooperation and model practices. Courtroom Technology Division of DIT supporting the courtroom operations for the three courts (Circuit, General District and, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court (JDRC) successfully implemented this best practice technology model for Fairfax County judiciary system.
Fairfax County was ranked as the best in the nation in the 2012 Digital Counties Survey which recognizes leading examples of counties using information and communications technology by The Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties (NACo). Fairfax County received first place honors in the competition for jurisdictions with populations of 500,000 or greater. The Digital Counties Survey evaluates localities on their ability to demonstrate successful outcomes through the strategic use of technology. Winning jurisdictions aligned goals with strategy, showed measurable benefits and improvement over the prior year, utilized innovative solutions, and demonstrated a commitment to collaboration.
Public Technology Institute (PTI) recognized Fairfax County for Significant Achievement for Mobile Applications: "Government in the Palm of Your Hands" in 2011/2012 Technology Solutions Award. An independent panel of judges has identified the winners of PTI's 2011–2012 Technology Solutions Awards for their efforts to use technology to improve government service. Awards were presented at the 2012 CIO Leadership & Summit East in Boston.
Fairfax County won the prestigious 2011 Governor’s COVITS (Commonwealth of Virginia IT Symposium) award in the "Innovation in Local Government" category for: "Placing Government in the Palm of Your Hand" that represented the mobile applications DIT has developed over the last year in recognition of the explosive growth in mobile technology. Fairfax County places government in the palm of constituent’s hands with the introduction of a portfolio of mobile apps enhancing the public’s experience with information and services on mobile devices like iPhone/iPad, Android and Blackberry. The official Fairfax County Government mobile app is available to download for free on Apple’s iTunes store, Android Market as well as from links through the County website.
For enabling faster resource deployment during emergency response, Fairfax County has received the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) "Best of NIEM" Award from the Department of Homeland Security. The award recognizes the county’s work on a Northern Virginia CAD2CAD project.CAD2CAD, the enhanced system for regional computer-aided dispatch (CAD), allows sharing of data and dispatch status among 9-1-1 call centers in Fairfax County, city of Fairfax, city of Alexandria and Arlington County. Since going live in February 2010, the enhanced system has decreased emergency response time up to 50 percent across the participating jurisdictions.
The Center for Digital Government ranked Fairfax County website as one of the finalist in the 2011 Best of Web Awards. Best of Web (BOW) recognizes outstanding government portals and websites based on innovation, functionality and efficiency.
The Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties (NACo) ranked Fairfax County among America's top five in the 2011 Digital Counties Survey which recognizes leading examples of counties using information and communications technology. Fairfax County received fifth place honors in the competition for jurisdictions with populations of 500,000 or greater.
Intergraph ICON Award recognized Fairfax County for a multi-agency collaborative effort between the Department of Information Technology and Fairfax County public safety agencies for successful implementation of a new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and related public safety systems as part of the Public Safety Architecture Modernization Project. The project was initiated and enabled through the County’s IT Governance model and managed by the County’s Department of Information Technology.
Public Technology Institute (PTI ) Web 2.0 State and Local Government Awards for Excellence - Fairfax County was just one of the four counties being honored with the prestigious Web 2.0 State and Local Government Awards for Excellence along with other city and state governments.The awards recognized innovative use of Web 2.0 applications and social media tools to engage citizens, improve efficiency and increase accountability.
Wanda Gibson, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) was nominated as a finalist for 2011 prestigious Women in Technology Leadership Award sponsored by the Women in Technology Organization.
Industry Green IT Award Department of Information Technology was among this year's InfoWorld Green 15 winners! Each year, InfoWorld recognizes the 15 most innovative sustainable IT initiatives worldwide. Fairfax County was recognized for successful IT Infrastructure and power management projects that decreased the county’s carbon footprint, achieved enterprise wide IT efficiencies and cost savings.