John S. Butler is the Fire Chief for Fairfax County, Virginia. He is a paramedic and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Baltimore, a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, and certificates from Harvard University, the National Fire Academy (NFA) Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO), and the Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI). Chief Butler served as the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) President in 2023-2024, holds the Chief Fire Officer, Chief EMS Officer, Chief Training Officer, and Fire Marshal designations from the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC). He is chairman of the NFA Board of Visitors; and is a board member of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Chief Butler is a retired U.S. Marine with 20 years of active and reserve USMC service, including two combat tours.
