Fire Chief John Butler is pleased to announce the promotion of Deputy Chief John Walser to Assistant Chief with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, effective September 9, 2023. His assignment will be determined in the coming weeks.
Assistant Chief Walser began his career in the fire service in 1986 as a volunteer in Lancaster and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In 1993, he joined the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department as a member of Recruit Class 84. Upon graduation, his first assignment was at Fire Station 31, Fox Mill. In 1996, Assistant Chief Walser was promoted Apparatus Technician and assigned to Fire Station 38, West Centreville before moving to Fire Station 4, Herndon. He was promoted to Master Technician in 2000. In 2001, Assistant Chief Walser was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to Fire Station 25, Reston. He was promoted to Captain I in 2005 and assigned to Fire Station 10, Bailey’s Crossroads. He served as a safety officer from 2010 to 2012. In 2012, Assistant Chief Walser was promoted to Captain II and assigned to Fire Station 17, Centreville, before moving to Fire Station 29, Tysons. He began serving as a safety officer again in 2014. In 2015, he was promoted to Battalion Chief and assigned to Fire Prevention. He worked in Fire Prevention for seven years until he was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2022 and assigned to C-shift Operations. He most recently served as Deputy Chief in the Office of the Fire Marshal.
Additionally, Assistant Chief Walser holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University. He earned a Master of Science Degree in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is a principal member of two National Fire Protection Association technical committees, Fire Risk Assessment Methods and Guide to the Fire Safety Concepts Tree. Assistant Chief Walser is certified through the International Code Council as a Building Official and Fire Marshal.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department News 