Public Affairs

On Friday, April 23, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed Kevin Davis to the position of chief of the Fairfax County Police Department. Deputy County Executive for Public Safety Dave Rohrer has been acting as interim since former chief Edwin C. Roessler retired in February. Davis’s appointment is effective May 3.

Davis served as the City of Baltimore’s police commissioner from 2015 to 2018. He had previously served as chief of police of Anne Arundel County, MD, from 2013 to 2014, and as assistant chief of the Prince George’s County, MD police department from 1992 to 2013. Most recently he has worked as director of consulting services for GardaWorld.

 “As this nation looks to transform policing to make the community safer for everyone, we have the opportunity for a fresh perspective to further our work on police reform in Fairfax County. After extensive outreach with the community and stakeholders, the board had a clear idea of the characteristics and leadership styles that would be needed in our next chief,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. “After thorough interviews, the entire board is confident that Kevin will continue Fairfax’s work on police reform, build on the deep community involvement and relationships with stakeholders, and improve morale within the police department. He is recognized across the region as a leader in police reform and has a strong reputation and is well-respected in the communities he has served. I’m looking forward to both our diverse Fairfax County community and police department having the opportunity to meet our new chief and hear his vision and goals firsthand.”

Davis took over as commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department after a period of protests and civil unrest. During his tenure he established a Department of Justice Compliance and Accountability Division and a fully implemented body-worn camera program. He also worked to build trust with the community and foster transparency by providing information about the department’s internal policies and all police-involved shootings and expanded the department’s police chaplains program, which trained more than 100 faith community leaders to serve as ambassadors in the community.

While serving Anne Arundel County, Davis was the first chief in Maryland to require police officers to train for, carry and administer naloxone to individuals suffering from drug overdoses, and created a Crisis Intervention Team including mental health professionals to respond to calls for service where mental illness or a behavioral crisis were factors.

“Following a thorough search process and input from the community, we were fortunate to have many excellent candidates to consider. There are few positions so vital to our community, and Kevin brings leadership, depth of experience and vision to the role,” said County Executive Bryan Hill. “I look forward to working together to move the department ahead, building on the reforms we have already put in place, at this defining moment in law enforcement around the country. Our goal is to be stronger and better prepared for the future of policing.”

Davis’s leadership experience includes reform initiatives in use of force, training and technology that have received international attention and accolades.

Davis is an adjunct professor at American University and a lecturer at Catholic University of America. He was recently appointed to a four-year term on the state’s Commission on Judicial Disabilities, an independent body that hears complaints against Maryland judges. He has served on numerous professional boards and commissions and was a member of the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board in Maryland.

He has a master's degree in management from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Towson University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the FBI National Executive Institute. He will receive an annual salary of $215,000.

Lloyd Tucker is the new director of Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS), effective March 13. Tucker succeeds Christopher Leonard, who was appointed Deputy Director of Health and Human Services in January.

Tucker has over 23 years of experience in Health and Human Services, 17 of them with Fairfax County. He has served with NCS since 2010, first as a regional manager and since 2016 as director of NCS’s Regional Services and Center Operations Division. He has been with Fairfax County since 2004, beginning with the former Department of Community and Recreation Services as a Therapeutic Recreation Program manager.

During his tenure with the county, Tucker has focused his skills and experience on the strategic work associated with providing recreational, educational and developmental programs and services for the full spectrum of county residents, from youth to older adults. He has extensive experience in facilitating community engagement, conflict resolution and organizational development and management.

NCS provides a variety of recreation, educational and developmental programs and services; facilitates community engagement to identify areas of need and enhance countywide capacity for serving those needs; and connects residents with a broad spectrum of county- and community-based resources and services.

Tucker holds a Certified Public Manager credential from George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership. He has a Master of Science in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University, a Master of Arts in counseling from Hampton University and a Bachelor of Science in therapeutic recreation from Hampton University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership.

Tucker will receive an annual salary of $165,000.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors today appointed Christopher Leonard as deputy county executive, effective Jan. 2, 2021. He replaces Tisha Deeghan, who retires on Feb. 1, 2021.

Leonard will be responsible for Fairfax County’s Health, Housing and Human Services programs and will oversee the following agencies:

• Health Department

• Department of Neighborhood and Community Services

• Department of Housing and Community Development

• Department of Family Services

• Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board

• Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

• Office of Strategy Management for Health and Human Services

• McLean Community Center

• Reston Community Center

Since 2010, Leonard has served as director of the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS), which provides recreation, educational and developmental programs and services; facilitates community engagement to identify areas of need and enhance countywide capacity for serving those needs; and connects residents with county- and community-based resources and services.

“I’m honored and proud to receive this appointment. The county’s Health, Housing and Human Services system has always played an integral role in the social and economic well-being of our residents, and especially now as we navigate the unprecedented challenge of this global pandemic,” said Leonard. “I hope to build upon the incredible work that’s been done by our leadership team and staff and further expand our great community partnerships, while continuing to focus on equity, opportunity and helping all of our residents to achieve their full potential.”

Leonard has served Fairfax County for more than two decades. He began his career with the county as a budget analyst in 1999. In 2003 he was appointed deputy director of the former Department of Community and Recreation Services (CRS) and later appointed acting director. That agency merged with the Department of Systems Management for Human Services to create the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, which Leonard has led since 2010. 

“The Health, Housing and Human Services system has made significant progress in our efforts to create communities of opportunity for all county residents,” said Deeghan. “I am confident that the important work of making the HHS system responsive to a changing community and improving outcomes for individuals and families will continue under Chris’s leadership.”

Leonard earned a bachelor’s in sports management and a master’s in public administration, both from West Virginia University.

He will receive an annual salary of $214,000.

Fairfax County partnered with the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council (VFOIA Council) to provide VFOIA Training Day in August. The event drew over 300 attendees, from 68 Virginia towns, cities and counties, including compliance experts, elected officials, county administrators, attorneys and public safety professionals.

The event was held virtually to expand access to the training for local and state government employees throughout the commonwealth.

If you missed the virtual event, a recording of VFOIA Training Day is now available online. Topics covered included disclosure of law enforcement records and social media information and what information can be discussed in closed session during public meetings. VFOIA Advisory Council Executive Director Alan Gernhardt noted that under social distancing requirements, some localities are conducting public meetings in parking lots and high school gyms.

More information:

• FY 2020 VFOIA Annual Report shows a 26% increase in requests since FY 2019.
• Submitting VFOIA requests to Fairfax County.

The first three graduates of the comprehensive Fairfax County Drug Court program will be honored at a ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. The public is invited to attend. (Social distancing and masks are required.)

Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey McKay will deliver the keynote address. “We need to be treating those with addiction and reducing interactions with the criminal justice system. This program supports those two needs,” says McKay. “This is not an easy program and today, these graduates and their families have a great deal to celebrate.”

Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Penney S. Azcarate, who was instrumental in establishing the Drug Court, found that approximately 65% to 70% of her cases involved substance use. "If we can reduce substance use recidivism in our county,” she points out, “we ultimately can save lives — and money.” Studies have shown that, even with treatment costs included, drug courts saved localities an overall average of $5,600 to $6,200 per offender compared to incarceration. In addition to the graduates, there are some 20 participants currently active in the program.

Drug courts are specific court sessions, or dockets, for criminal defendants who have alcohol and/or other substance use disorders. In Fairfax County’s program, eligible participants have been convicted of a non-violent crime, are on probation and have come back into the court because of a felony probation violation related to substance use dependency disorders.

Participants enter the Drug Court program voluntarily and commit to close monitoring and following treatment recommendations, as well as regular communication with a probation officer, frequent court status hearings and routine drug screenings. The supervising judge receives regular reports from treatment providers about the participants.

The team members who oversee the Drug Court include prosecutors, public defenders, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, probation officials, judges, clerks, evaluators and the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office.

The program is one of several Diversion First initiatives that offer alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance use disorders who come into the criminal justice system. The goal of Diversion First is to intercede with assessment, treatment and needed supports to prevent repeated encounters with the criminal justice system and promote a healthier community.

For information, contact Fairfax County Drug Court Coordinator Lanier Meeks Yi, 703-246-3238 (TTY 711).

As a move to help taxpayers during the ongoing pandemic, Fairfax County significantly reduced penalties for late personal property and real estate tax payments this year.

On June 23, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved these changes that will apply only to tax year 2020. County leaders cut the penalty in half from 10% to 5% for late payment of these taxes. They also eliminated the additional 15% penalty for personal property taxes—better known as car taxes— that are more than 30 days overdue.

“These uncertain times are causing financial hardships for many in our community and the stress of balancing property payments with basic needs can be overwhelming,” said Fairfax County Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. “The board is committed to taking the actions necessary to help our residents and I’m glad that we have the resources to be able to implement another option for relief.”

In late March, the board extended the due date to pay the first half of real estate taxes until Aug. 28. This payment is normally due a month earlier on July 28. The deadline to report changes in personal property ownership was also extended to June 1. Taxpayers who missed this deadline are subject to the normal 10% penalty, however.

As always, Department of Tax Administration staff are available to assist taxpayers experiencing financial difficulties with setting up reasonable payment plans.

Residents and businesses are strongly encouraged to pay their taxes online because it is the safest, fastest and easiest way during the pandemic. E-check payments are easy, quick and free. Officials want to remind residents who normally pay with cash in person that they can do so by mailing a money order instead.

For more information or questions, contact the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration  by email or by phone at 703-222-8234, TTY 711.

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“In terms of local government chief information security officers, Michael Dent stands above and apart from all others,” stated the recognition of Fairfax County Chief Information Security Officer Michael Dent as a LocalSmart Cybersecurity Leader of the Year.

Dent’s high standard of process-driven data protection in Fairfax County was cited as a model template for other local government jurisdictions and for commercial and government enterprises. He was honored, "for many reasons that go beyond his nationally recognized performance as Fairfax County CISO,” noted the award’s sponsor, StateScoop.

The award recognizes county or city leaders whose focus and effort to improve information security is protecting systems and resident information. Part of the first LocalSmart Awards, a program created to highlight the inspirational people and projects making government more efficient and effective, the award is sponsored by the Scoop News Group’s StateScoop, which reports on news and events impacting technology decisions in state and local government.

This year’s James M. Scott Exceptional Design Award recipients were recognized alongside leaders in Environmental Excellence on Oct. 22. The winners represent superior work of architecture that combines green building practices with outstanding site design and landscaping.

Fairfax County established the Exceptional Design Awards in 1984 to recognize achievement in the total design of a building and its site. The awards aim to raise awareness of outstanding planning and design projects among design professionals and the general public. The design awards program is sponsored by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and administered by the County's Department of Planning and Development in cooperation with the County Architectural Review Board and the Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Awards are granted in three categories: honor, merit and honorable mention. A jury of design professionals, including architects, select the winners.

This year’s winners include George Mason University’s Peterson Family Health Sciences Hall, Inova Sports Medicine and Signature at Reston Town Center.

View a complete list of winners on the Department of Planning and Development’s website.

The Environmental Excellence Awards recognizes individuals, organizations, businesses and county employees who:

• Advance or support of the Board of Supervisors and county's environmental goals and policy statements
• Dedicate personal time and expertise beyond normal fiscal or civic responsibilities
• Demonstrate leadership as a role model for others

The Environmental Excellence Awards are administered by the Environmental Quality Advisory Council with support from the county's new Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination and the Department of Planning and Zoning.

The 2019 Environmental Excellence Award recipients are:

Individual Awards

• Catherine Ledec, President, Friends of Huntley Meadows Park
• Helen Stevens, Clinical Director, Inova HealthPlex – Lorton Emergency Department

Organization Awards

• Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
• Reston Annual State of the Environment (RASER) Working Group

County Employee Awards

• James Hart, Vice Chairman and Member At-Large, Planning Commission
• Noel Kaplan, Senior Environmental Planner (retired)

The joint ceremony for both award programs was held on Oct. 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center.

Inova’s vision to expand its Center for Personalized Health to create a destination for health innovation and discovery won approval from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

The board approved updates to the county’s land use plan for the center’s 117-acre campus across the street from Inova Fairfax Hospital in Merrifield. The changes are the first step needed to allow the health system to incorporate more academic and research space at its campus, plus add complementary housing, retail and  hotels.

The center will establish the county as a health sciences innovation hub helping to grow and diversify the economy, officials say. The center’s expansion will also benefit residents who will have access to state-of-the-art medical care like the Inova Schar Cancer Institute that opened in May.

“I am so pleased that Inova continues to invest in our community through the expansion of their research and treatment center,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova. “This center will combine innovation, technology, and groundbreaking research to prevent and treat diseases. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that will transform the lives of not just Fairfax County residents, but of those who visit in search of world-class treatment as well.”

Inova’s Plan

The campus, which was once ExxonMobil’s headquarters, is already developed with five office buildings totaling more than 1.2 million square feet. The newly approved Comprehensive Plan envisions another 3.8 million square feet in possible development on the property’s western side.

Inova says that about half this proposed future development would be for academic partners led by the University of Virginia. Inova already has entered into a comprehensive research and medical educational partnership with George Mason University and the University of Virginia. It will bring together clinicians who will work side by side with researchers from state universities and biomedical technology startups.

One component of this partnership is the Global Genomics and Bioinformatics Research Institute that’s based at Inova’s campus. The institute will focus on translating research and technology breakthroughs into clinical care to address patient needs.

In the first phase of its expansion, Inova plans to build new academic and research spaces and up to 705 housing units that could be used for assisted living, student housing and workforce housing. The future development will include up to 120,000 square feet for a short-term  stay hotel that could be used by families of cancer patients and researchers.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change healthcare in Northern Virginia,” said Dr. J. Stephen Jones, president and CEO of Inova Health System. “The clinical, academic and commercial collaborations on this campus will improve the health of our community and become a source of economic growth and jobs for Fairfax County.”

Center’s Economic Impact

By 2035, Inova estimates that activity on and related to the campus will generate $1.18 billion in economic impact, including $68 million in local and state tax revenue.

In addition to fostering a new innovation ecosystem, the center will help diversify the local economy and tax base, a key goal in the county’s economic growth strategy.

The campus also houses a startup accelerator and investment fund to help biotech companies expand. Its accelerator works with startups to provide education, capital and access to Inova’s resources. Inova also invests directly in companies and in health and technology venture funds.

Community Engagement

Fairfax County’s updated land use plan was developed with extensive community involvement. The county worked with a community task force that reviewed and shaped the land use recommendations over the course of 26 public meetings. In addition, Inova conducted quarterly meetings with neighborhood associations and held open houses throughout the process.

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At its meeting today, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed Gregory Scott as the next director of the Department of Information Technology, effective Sept. 28.

Over a nearly 35-year career in information technology — the last 26 years with Fairfax County Government — Scott has overseen state-of-the-art solutions in a constantly evolving industry. For the past six years, he has served as a deputy director of information technology, responsible for areas such as land development, health and human services, revenue services and e-government. In this role, Scott provided strategic leadership, direction and guidance to help county departments reach their goals and business objectives, while managing a portfolio of multimillion-dollar initiatives. As a deputy, Scott also helped implement many information technology policies and standards consistent with the changing IT landscape.

For 12 years, Scott led the Department of Information Technology’s E-Government & Enterprise Architecture Division, which includes county website properties, interactive voice response and customer relationship management. During this tenure, Scott served as the technical manager for the transition to a new enterprise resource planning system shared by Fairfax County Government and Fairfax County Public Schools that conducts finance, budget, procurement and human resource business functions.

From 1978 to 1993, Scott worked in various private sector information technology positions. He first joined the county in 1993 as a contractor, followed by five years of public service in the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.

Scott succeeds Wanda Gibson, who retired from the county this summer. He will receive an annual salary of $206,000.