Our Leadership
Corporate Officers
Adriana Palacios
President
Adriana joined the FCVFD in 2017 and is an active EMT as well as the department’s president. As a graduate of 911’s Emergency Medical Technician course and a licensed medical specialist, she organizes outreach and community events for the department and coordinates fire safety training for Falls Church community organizations.
Originally from Arequipa, Peru, Adriana received extensive hotel operations and food service management training from the Marriott Corporation and served in Marriott hotels and resorts in Germany and the United States. She is a world traveler, speaks four languages, and is a passionate gastronomy and wine enthusiast who enjoys entertaining guests in her home with her Peruvian and international specialties.
Adriana resides in the City of Falls Church with her husband, two sons, and guinea pigs Elsa and Qolla (not food). She is frequently visited by two stepchildren.
Brian Miller
Vice President
Brian joined the Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department in 2022 and is an active EMT. Outside of volunteering, he works as a product manager at a software company. Originally from Virginia Beach, Brian balances his career in tech with his dedication to public service and serving his community.
Rita Wells
Treasurer
Rita Lappin Wells joined the FCVFD in November 2019 and currently serves as the Treasurer. Originally from Illinois, she is a long-term resident of the City of Falls Church.
She is an adjunct faculty member in the Georgetown University graduate program in Supply Chain Management where she specializes in supply chain cost and financial management. She has an extensive management background in both the private and public sectors. As an industry leader executive, she managed global subcontracting operations. Her public sector experience includes career senior executive positions as a Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy and an Associate Administrator at the U.S. Department of Transportation. She also served as a DOD contracting officer and cost/price analyst and was a member of the faculty at the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
She has a PhD from Ohio State University, an MBA with a concentration in finance from Southern Illinois University, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois.
Richard Klein
Secretary
Richard is a Falls Church City resident who spent most of his career working at a laboratory in Washington, DC. When he joined the FCVFD as an administrative member in 2018, he managed the children’s birthday parties that we hosted on most weekends in our station’s meeting hall. He also served as a trustee from 2019–2021.
Richard has been the department’s secretary since 2019. He is honored to be an officer but thinks it’s silly to write about himself in the third person. He’s a good example of the type of person you wouldn’t expect to find among the heroes who work at the firehouse, and he basks in the halo effect that they impart.
Jason McCandless
Compliance Officer
Jason has served as an operational member of the Department since 2006.
A Virginia-certified, nationally-registered paramedic since 2008, Jason earned his critical care and flight paramedic certifications from the Board for Critical Care Transport Certification in 2018. He hopes to earn his community paramedic certification from the Board in 2020.
When not staffing the Department’s ambulance, Jason is a volunteer paramedic for the Loudoun County Combined Fire & Rescue System. He also enjoys volunteering for the Arlington Medical Reserve Corps, the Arlington Free Clinic, and Doorways for Women & Families.
After eleven years as a prosecutor for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church, Jason has spent the past ten years doing child welfare litigation for Arlington County.
Operations Officers
Dave Dougherty
Chief
Dave joined the FCVFD in 2015 and serves as an active EMT. As Chief of the Department, Dave is responsible for all operations and training.
Kelly Brown
Assistant Chief
Kelly joined the FCVFD in 2022, is an active EMT, and the Department’s Assistant Chief.
Originally from Georgia, Kelly served in the U.S. Army as a Strategist and Blackhawk (UH-60) Helicopter Pilot for 26 years. A longtime Arlington County resident, after serving throughout the U.S., overseas, and in multiple combat zones, Kelly is excited to continue serving at home.
In addition to volunteering with the FCVFD, Kelly also serves as a board member for the Allied Forces Foundation, Army Aviation Association of America Scholarship Foundation, Liaison Officer Association, and Society of White House Military Aides.
Kelly holds a DBA from Northcentral University, MS from National Defense University, MPA from Troy University, and BS from the United States Military Academy.
Jason McCandless
Lieutenant
Jason has served as an operational member of the Department since 2006.
A Virginia-certified, nationally-registered paramedic since 2008, Jason earned his critical care and flight paramedic certifications from the Board for Critical Care Transport Certification in 2018. He hopes to earn his community paramedic certification from the Board in 2020.
When not staffing the Department’s ambulance, Jason is a volunteer paramedic for the Loudoun County Combined Fire & Rescue System. He also enjoys volunteering for the Arlington Medical Reserve Corps, the Arlington Free Clinic, and Doorways for Women & Families.
After eleven years as a prosecutor for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church, Jason has spent the past ten years doing child welfare litigation for Arlington County.
Brendan Meehan
Lieutenant
Brendan Meehan joined the Falls Church VFD in the spring of 2010, shortly after moving to Northern Virginia. His career in the fire service spans over 20 years including paid and volunteer, public and private departments.
Originally from Florida, Brendan began his fire & rescue career as an “Explorer” with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue. After moving north to Gainesville for college in 2002, he began volunteering as a firefighter for the High Springs Fire Department. After obtaining his EMT-B certification, he was hired by Bradford County Emergency Services and worked on ALS transport units for the rural county.
Since joining the FCVFD, Brendan has obtained several certifications including Firefighter I/II, Driver/Pump Operator, EVOC I/II/III, HazMat Operations, Instructor I & Officer I. Additionally, he is an ACFD BLS-Provider, which allows him to serve as the “Attendant In Charge” on volunteer ambulances in Arlington County.
Brendan holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Urban Alliance and as Board Member of Special Love.
Adriana Palacios
Lieutenant
Adriana joined the FCVFD in 2017 and is an active EMT as well as the department’s president. As a graduate of 911’s Emergency Medical Technician course and a licensed medical specialist, she organizes outreach and community events for the department and coordinates fire safety training for Falls Church community organizations.
Originally from Arequipa, Peru, Adriana received extensive hotel operations and food service management training from the Marriott Corporation and served in Marriott hotels and resorts in Germany and the United States. She is a world traveler, speaks four languages, and is a passionate gastronomy and wine enthusiast who enjoys entertaining guests in her home with her Peruvian and international specialties.
Adriana resides in the City of Falls Church with her husband, two sons, and guinea pigs Elsa and Qolla (not food). She is frequently visited by two stepchildren.
Justin Miller
Lieutenant
Justin Miller joined the Falls Church VFD in 2019 and is an active EMT. He has served as a trustee and as membership coordinator. Since joining, he has obtained EMT-B and EVOC I/II/III certifications.
Outside the department, Justin is an associate general counsel at Freddie Mac, specializing in the taxation of financial institutions and products. He works on a wide variety of complex transactions including securitization, credit risk transfer, debt, derivatives, tender offers, tax credits, new business initiatives, and tax controversies. He also works on pro bono matters such as uncontested divorce, expungement, election protection, and volunteer income tax assistance (VITA).
Justin earned a J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law and a B.B.A., summa cum laude, from the College of William and Mary with concentrations in Accounting and Physics. He grew up in Arlington, Virginia and lives there with his wife and daughter. Apart from the above, Justin enjoys cooking, mixology, and playing video games.
Julia “JJ” Elliott
Lieutenant
JJ joined the FCVFD in 2018 and is an active EMT / Driver as well as the department’s Vice President and a Trustee. Her role is assisting the President in organizing outreach and community events for the department as well as coordinating fire safety training for Falls Church community organizations.
JJ, in addition to her roles at the department, is currently attending Nursing School at Marymount University in Arlington VA with her ultimate desire being a Pediatric Oncology or an Emergency Department RN. JJ is very passionate about helping keep her community safe and ensuring that the community is educated on fire safety and basic first aid!
Board of Trustees
Adriana Palacios
Chair
Adriana joined the FCVFD in 2017 and is an active EMT as well as the department’s president. As a graduate of 911’s Emergency Medical Technician course and a licensed medical specialist, she organizes outreach and community events for the department and coordinates fire safety training for Falls Church community organizations.
Originally from Arequipa, Peru, Adriana received extensive hotel operations and food service management training from the Marriott Corporation and served in Marriott hotels and resorts in Germany and the United States. She is a world traveler, speaks four languages, and is a passionate gastronomy and wine enthusiast who enjoys entertaining guests in her home with her Peruvian and international specialties.
Adriana resides in the City of Falls Church with her husband, two sons. She is frequently visited by two stepchildren.
Jim O’Dowd
Trustee
Jim O’Dowd joined the Falls Church VFD in October 1986. Jim is a lifelong Northern Virginia resident.
Jim has served the Falls Church VFD as a Firefighter-EMT, EMS Lieutenant, EMS Captain, Secretary, Vice President and President.
Jim is employed by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association in Rockville, MD.
Jim lives in Falls Church City.
Julia “JJ” Elliott
Trustee
JJ joined the FCVFD in 2018 and is an active EMT / Driver as well as the department’s Vice President and a Trustee. Her role is assisting the President in organizing outreach and community events for the department as well as coordinating fire safety training for Falls Church community organizations.
JJ, in addition to her roles at the department, is currently attending Nursing School at Marymount University in Arlington VA with her ultimate desire being a Pediatric Oncology or an Emergency Department RN. JJ is very passionate about helping keep her community safe and ensuring that the community is educated on fire safety and basic first aid!
Kelly Brown
Trustee
Kelly joined the FCVFD in 2022, is an active EMT, and the Department’s Assistant Chief.
Originally from Georgia, Kelly served in the U.S. Army as a Strategist and Blackhawk (UH-60) Helicopter Pilot for 26 years. A longtime Arlington County resident, after serving throughout the U.S., overseas, and in multiple combat zones, Kelly is excited to continue serving at home.
In addition to volunteering with the FCVFD, Kelly also serves as a board member for the Allied Forces Foundation, Army Aviation Association of America Scholarship Foundation, Liaison Officer Association, and Society of White House Military Aides.
Kelly holds a DBA from Northcentral University, MS from National Defense University, MPA from Troy University, and BS from the United States Military Academy.
Justin Miller
Trustee
Justin Miller joined the Falls Church VFD in 2019 and is an active EMT. He has served as a trustee and as membership coordinator. Since joining, he has obtained EMT-B and EVOC I/II/III certifications.
Outside the department, Justin is an associate general counsel at Freddie Mac, specializing in the taxation of financial institutions and products. He works on a wide variety of complex transactions including securitization, credit risk transfer, debt, derivatives, tender offers, tax credits, new business initiatives, and tax controversies. He also works on pro bono matters such as uncontested divorce, expungement, election protection, and volunteer income tax assistance (VITA).
Justin earned a J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law and a B.B.A., summa cum laude, from the College of William and Mary with concentrations in Accounting and Physics. He grew up in Arlington, Virginia and lives there with his wife and daughter. Apart from the above, Justin enjoys cooking, mixology, and playing video games.
Brian Miller
Trustee
Brian joined the Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department in 2022 and is an active EMT. Outside of volunteering, he works as a product manager at a software company. Originally from Virginia Beach, Brian balances his career in tech with his dedication to public service and serving his community.
Gabriel Spiro
Trustee
Gabriel joined the FCVFD in 2020 and is an active EMT. He serves as the deputy quartermaster, department historian, and an avid member of the public education committee.
Growing up in Montgomery County, MD, Gabriel was a member of another local volunteer fire department, where he developed a passion for public education programs. Within FCVFD, he has led many public education programs and is looking to expand the department’s reach. As the department’s historian, he enjoys telling its story and it’s contribution to the Falls Church community.
