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Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department recognized dozens of members in November 2025, celebrating promotions and emergency responses involving trapped occupants, floodwaters and serious vehicle crashes.
Three civilian employees advanced to new positions. Jake Patten was promoted to Management Analyst III, Chase Martin to Engineer III and Juan Vargas Torres to Apparatus Assistant Supervisor.
The department also announced 22 uniformed promotions. Joshua Adams and Richard Dawley, Jr. became captains, while Colin Edwards, Daniel Donato, Daniel Holton and Benjamin Rothwell were promoted to lieutenant.
James Brown, Michael D’Angelo, Andrew Duke, Moeed Ghazi, Brandon Goodman, James Helbig, Meredith Hinz, Kyle Jackson, Mehdi Jamal, Shannon Lesefka, Seth Mills, Peter Princi, Justin Rude, Robert Seggel, Dante Seraile and Jonathan Wallace were promoted to technician.
Crews Recognized for Emergency Responses
Members of Rescue 414 and Medic 403 in the City of Fairfax received a unit citation for their response to a February 2025 vehicle crash in which a pedestrian was struck.
Those honored from Rescue 414 were Lieutenant Johnathan MacQuilliam, Master Technician Travis Franks, TROT Technician Anthony Dent and TROT Technician Kyle Hihn. Lieutenant Jared Cheifetz and Fire Medic Hunter Smootz were recognized from Medic 403.
A Rescue 439 crew was honored for its actions during a high-water rescue in June 2025. The citation recognized Captain Robert Garza, Master Technician Matthew Brecht, TROT Technician Ian Richards and Technician Jason Walter.
Several units received citations for responding to an August 2025 vehicle crash involving entrapment.
Engine 426 personnel recognized were Lieutenant Grant Higginbotham, Master Technician Jeffrey Werth, Firefighter/Paramedic Campbell Hunt and Firefighter Marcus Wilson.
Rescue 408 honorees included Lieutenant Andrew Johnson, HazMat Technician MaryKate Black, HazMat Technician Thomas Dondero, Technician Dennis Camacho and Technician Brain Krause.
Master EMS Technician Kristopher Keyser and Master Technician Ryland Chapman were honored from Medic 405. Acting EMS Technician Peter Princi, Jr. and Firefighter Christopher Chong were recognized from Medic 408, while EMS Technician Terrance Ewell and Firefighter Zachary Cerniglia were honored from Medic 426.
Truck 410 members received a citation for life-saving actions during an August 2025 fire involving trapped occupants. The department recognized Lieutenant Shane Dickinson and firefighters William Dolna, Corey Smith and Taylor White.