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Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Battalion Chief Matthew Cox will be promoted to deputy chief effective Dec. 13, 2025, marking another step in a public-service career that began more than three decades ago. His new assignment will be determined when the promotion takes effect.

Cox entered emergency service in 1989 as a Virginia Tech Rescue Squad volunteer, earning his emergency medical technician certification. He also worked as an emergency room technician at Fairfax Hospital before graduating, entering the private sector and later returning to the fire service.

He joined Fairfax County Fire and Rescue 23 years ago, graduating with Recruit School 105 in 2002. Cox served as a firefighter and apparatus technician at Fire Station 31 in Fox Mill before advancing through a series of operational and leadership positions.

After his promotion to lieutenant, he worked as a relief lieutenant for Battalion 5 on C-Shift and as a deputy chief’s aide on B-Shift and C-Shift. As a Captain I and Captain II, his assignments included Fire Station 36 in Frying Pan, serving as aide to the assistant chief of operations, and Fire Station 34 in Oakton.

Cox later led Battalion 2 on A-Shift and served at the Fire and Rescue Training Academy as a battalion chief. His most recent post was aide to the assistant chief of the Administrative Services Bureau.

Throughout his department career, Cox has helped lead planning for new fire stations, staffing studies, apparatus deployment strategies and evaluations of personal protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus. He also participated in pandemic response operations.

Cox is a live-find canine specialist with the department’s Urban Search and Rescue Team, VATF-1/USA-01. He and his canine partner, Peter Pan, have deployed on domestic and international disaster-relief missions, including responses in Miami, the Bahamas and Turkey.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in hotel, restaurant and institutional management from Virginia Tech and is pursuing a master’s degree in building construction science and management.

Cox has also served on national and departmental fire-service committees. He is a principal member of National Fire Protection Association committees focused on special-operations protective equipment and structural and proximity firefighting protective clothing.

For five years, he chaired the department’s Personal Protective Ensemble Committee, overseeing evaluations of turnout gear, breathing apparatus, helmets, gloves and other essential safety equipment.

His honors include a Team Excellence Award, two Career Achievement Awards, an Outstanding Performance Award, a Unit Citation Award, a Safe Driving Award and a Life Saving Award.

Outside the department, Cox and his wife foster and transport rescue dogs for Oldies But Goodies Cocker Spaniel Rescue. While assigned to B-Shift at Fire Station 36, he was also regularly recognized as a leading per-capita contributor to the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s “Fill the Boot” campaign.