With its close proximity to our nation’s capital, emergency management in Fairfax County, Virginia is vital not only to the security of the county and the state of Virginia but also to the entire United States. The Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management notes that constant threats to the county include hazardous material instances, floods and hurricanes. Other possible threats include other natural disasters and terroristic attacks. Emergency management jobs in Fairfax County, Virginia, therefore carry great responsibilities.
Emergency Management Training in Fairfax County
Emergency management jobs are varied in Fairfax County. One similarity exists among all jobs, however: usually a minimum of a bachelor’s degree is necessary to start an emergency management career.
Training programs in Fairfax County appropriate for emergency management jobs include:
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice – Emergency Management
- Master of Public Administration-Homeland Security Policy and Coordination
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
Emergency Management Careers and Agencies in Fairfax County
It is the goal of those holding emergency management careers in Fairfax County, Virginia to prepare citizens for emergencies of all kinds. The county’s Emergency Operations Plan provides a broad picture of the vast scope of emergency management. It lists 15 external support functions that have been planned for in the event of an emergency in Fairfax County. Each area, and emergency management jobs/emergency management areas involved in each, is listed below:
- External Affairs – coordinated by the Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs. Liaisons with:
- Department of Cable and Consumer Services
- Office of Emergency Management
- Department of Information Technology
- Fire and Rescue Department
- Police Department
- Health Department
- Long Term Community Recovery – coordinated by the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management, with jobs including Recovery Planning and Recovery Coordinator. Liaisons with:
- Office of Public Affairs
- Office of the County Attorney
- Department of Planning and Zoning
- Volunteer Fairfax
- Fairfax County Park Authority
- Department of Administration for Human Services
- Department of Neighborhood and Community Services
- Department of Transportation
- Facilities Management Department
- Economic Development Authority
- Health Department
- Fire and Rescue Department
- Police Department
- Department of Family Services
- Department of Housing and Community Development
- Department of Finance
- Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
- Public Safety and Security – coordinated by Fairfax County Police Department, with jobs involving law enforcement and managing security during emergencies. Liaisons with:
- Virginia Department of Transportation
- Vienna Police Department
- Herndon Police Department
- Virginia State Police
- Office of the County Attorney
- Facilities Management Department
- Office of the Sheriff
- Department of Public Safety Communications
- Energy and Infrastructure – coordinated by Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. Jobs involve collecting, monitoring and sharing information on the energy system infrastructure in the event of an emergency, and would include Engineer positions. Liaisons with:
- Department of Vehicle Services
- Office of the County Attorney
- Office of Emergency Management
- Agriculture and Natural Resources – coordinated by Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Jobs are intended to help with food security in the event of an emergency. Liaisons with:
- Police Department
- Health Department
- Oil and Hazardous Material Response – coordinated by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Jobs include Incident Management and Emergency Management Coordinator. Liaisons with:
- Police Department
- Department of Public Safety Communications
- Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
- Search and Rescue – coordinated by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and Police Departments. Jobs here include firefighter, emergency medical technician and police officer. Liaisons with:
- American Red Cross
- Department of Public Safety Communications
- Park Authority
- Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
- Public Health and Medical Services – coordinated by the Fairfax County Health Department, jobs include Public Health Coordinator and Community Health Educator. Liaisons with:
- Fairfax County Office of the Sheriff
- Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
- Northern Virginia Hospital Alliance
- Fairfax County Water Authority
- Department of Purchasing and Supply Management
- Fairfax County Public Schools
- Office of the County Attorney
- Police Department
- Fire and Rescue Department
- Logistics Management and Resource Support – handled by the Department of Purchasing and Supply Management with jobs involving obtaining and distributing supplies and commodities in response to emergencies. Liaisons with:
- Fire and Rescue Department
- Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
- Office of Emergency Management
- Department of Finance
- Department of Human Resources
- Police Department
- Fairfax County Public Schools
- Department of Vehicle Services
- Facilities Management Department
- Mass Care, Housing and Human Services – coordinated by Fairfax County Department of Family Services. Emergency management jobs here include Family Assistance Coordinator, Emergency Management Trainer, and liaison with the following agencies:
- Fairfax County Office of the Sheriff
- American Red Cross Chapter of the National Capitol Region
- Park Authority
- Falls Church Community Services Board
- Facilities Management Department
- Department of Administration for Human Services
- Office of the County Attorney
- Fairfax County Public Schools
- Health Department
- Department of Housing and Community Development
- Police Department
- Department of Neighborhood and Community Services
- Office of Emergency Management
- Fire and Rescue Department
- Emergency Management – coordinated by Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management, with jobs including Emergency Management Administrator and Emergency Management Coordinator. Liaisons with the following organizations:
- Amateur radio
- Volunteer Fairfax
- Department of Human Resources
- Office of the County Attorney
- Department of Planning and Zoning
- Police Department
- Fire and Rescue Department
- Department of Management and Budget
- Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
- Department of Information Technology
- Office of Public Affairs
- Firefighting – coordinated by Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Jobs here include Fire and Rescue Coordinator, Law Enforcement Consultant and liaison with the following agencies:
- Health Department
- Department of Public Safety Communications
- Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
- Police Department
- Public Works and Engineering – handled by Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. Jobs include Environmental Planner, Security Planner, Engineer and Liaison with the following agencies:
- Police Department
- Health Department
- Fire and Rescue Department
- Fairfax County Public Schools
- Department of Tax Administration
- Facilities Management Department
- Park Authority
- Office of the County Attorney
- Fairfax County Water Authority
- Fairfax County Department of Transportation
- Virginia Department of Transportation
- Department of Planning and Zoning
- Communications – handled by Fairfax County Department of Information Technology. Jobs here could include Information Technology Specialist, Systems Analyst, and Communications Analyst. Liaisons with:
- Fairfax County Public Schools
- Department of Cable and Consumer Services
- Department of Public Safety Communications
- Police Department
- Fire and Rescue Department
- Transportation – handled by Fairfax County Department of Transportation, which coordinates plans and procedures for county, with emergency management jobs including Emergency Management Planner, Emergency Management Trainer/Instructor, GIS Planner. Liaisons with:
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
- Virginia Railway Express
- Fire and Rescue Department
- Neighborhood and Community Services
- Department of Vehicle Services
- Fairfax County Public Schools