Our Leadership

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Bio coming soon!

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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.

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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 and 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.

 

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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.

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Dave joined the FCVFD in 2015 and serves as an active EMT. As Assistant Chief, Dave is responsible for assisting the senior officers with fire department operations and training, particularly as they relate to the EMS mission of the department.

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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.

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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 Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida and works as a Principal Solution Engineer with Salesforce.

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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 Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida and works as a Principal Solution Engineer with Salesforce.

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Stephen Sisler is a Falls Church native and a 3rd Generation fire firefighter at the Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department. His father, Ben Sisler is a life member who served as Chief for 13 years. His Uncle, the late Harry Sisler also served as Chief. His grandmother, Alberta Sisler served as the president of the Ladies Auxiliary in the 1970’s. Steve’s cousin, George Powell served as Assistant Chief in the early 80’s and is also a life member.

Since joining the Fire Department in 2000, Steve has served for two years as Lieutenant, one year as Captain, and two terms on the Board of Trustees. He is currently a member of the Apparatus Committee in addition to serving his second year as Captain and maintaining his seat on the Board of Trustees.

Steve has received notable recognition for his service, including the Firefighter of the Year Award from the Arlington County Fire and Rescue Association and the Outstanding Volunteer Award from Arlington County. Steve also holds the following certifications:

 

• Firefighter II
• Hazmat Operations
• 1403 Live Fire Instructor
• Instructor I
• Officer II
• He also has specialized training in:
  • Aircraft Rescue Firefighting
  • Arson Detection from the National Fire Academy
  • Vehicle Extrication

When Steve is not fighting fires, he works at Sislers Stone, his family business on Lee Highway in Falls Church, where he has worked for 21 years. He is currently Vice-President and General Manager of the business.

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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.

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Blair joined the FCVFD in 2017 and serves as an active EMT and Trustee. She also participates on the membership committee where she coordinates new member orientations and interviews potential new members.

Blair grew up in Vienna, VA and attended High Point University in NC where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Since graduating from High Point, she has worked in technology sales at Carahsoft Technology.

Blair currently resides in Ashburn with her husband and had her first child in October 2021. Besides driving Ambulance 106 on the weekends, her hobbies include working out, spending time with family and friends (preferably near a pool or a beach), and traveling the world whenever she can.

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Bio coming soon!

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Bio coming soon!