John S. Butler is the fire chief of the Fairfax County (Virginia) Fire and Rescue Department as well as president and board chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). He previously served as fire chief for Howard County (Maryland) Department of Fire and Rescue Services and was the first chief to have held every rank within that department. Butler 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 Executive Fire Officer Program, and the Fire Service Executive Development Institute. Butler holds the Chief Fire Officer, Chief EMS Officer, Chief Training Officer, and Fire Marshal designations from the Commission on Professional Credentialing. He is chairman of the NFA Board of Visitors and is a board member of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association. Butler is a retired U.S. Marine with 20 years of active and reserve service, including two combat tours.
