City of Alexandria Swears In New Fire/EMS Chief

Felipe Hernandez Jr. was sworn in as Alexandria's next Fire Chief in a ceremony at City Hall Tuesday, July 2. He will take the post on Monday, July 8.

"We're extremely excited to welcome Chief Hernandez, who will become Alexandria's first permanent Latino fire chief," said Mayor Justin Wilson. "[He] brings deep experience in labor relations, a modern, data-driven approach to firefighting, emergency medical service and emergency management, and what we understand is an "off the charts" energy that we know will be valued here in the city."

Hernandez will lead the Alexandria Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services. He comes to Alexandria with 25 years of experience in the fire service, previously serving as Fire Chief for the City of Rochester, New York, where he oversaw a department of 482 sworn and 24 civilian personnel. He most recently served as the Superintendent of the New York State Academy of Fire Science.

"Chief Hernandez's experience and technical competence really stood out in a competitive field," said City Manager Jim Parajon. "But, most importantly, what we heard about him time and again, is that he knows strong relationships with good people will ensure we continue to grow and thrive as an organization."

Hernandez is a Chief Fire Officer designated by the Commission on Professional Credentialing and a National Emergency Medical Technician, with additional certifications in fire officer instruction, health, and incident safety. He has a master's degree from Nazareth College and a bachelor's degree from State University of New York, Brockport.

"This is a great fire department. My job is to maintain and build on that greatness," said Chief Hernandez. "I see the department as an important part of the community and part of how we continue to keep moving forward."

Hernandez takes over from Interim Chief James Schwartz, who has been serving in that capacity since January. Schwartz served in the Arlington County Fire Department for 32 years, including 11 as chief, before coming out of retirement to fill the role for Alexandria.

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Alexandria at 275: Connecting to our past to define a brighter future.

Since its 1749 founding, the historic city of Alexandria has played a major role in our nation's story and reflected its progress toward inclusivity. Join us at events from April through September as we mark Alexandria's 275th anniversary and embark on the next chapter in our city's vibrant history at alexandriava.gov/ALX275.