[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 99 (Thursday, June 13, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 CONGRATULATING PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT CHIEF 
                     KEVIN McGEE ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 2019

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize an individual who 
has made an incredible mark on our community. This year marks the 
retirement of Chief Kevin McGee from the Prince William County Fire and 
Rescue Department. This will conclude an almost 40-year career for 
Chief McGee, all with the Prince William County Fire and Rescue 
Department.
   Chief McGee joined the Fire and Rescue Academy in 1979 and rose 
through the ranks, becoming Battalion Chief in 1991, Assistant Chief in 
1998 and was appointed Chief of the Fire and Rescue Department in 2007. 
Chief McGee also holds the distinction of having served at every rank 
of the Fire Department, enlisted and officer, on his way to serving as 
Chief. His tenure as Chief saw significant benefits for Prince William 
County including the reduction of false fire alarms by 82%. Chief McGee 
also led a review of Prince William County's emergency operations plans 
in order to adapt them to better respond to the threat posed by 
terrorism. He helped to modernize the department with the introduction 
of Geographic Information Systems, a computer-aided dispatch system, 
the Public Safety Radio Communications System and the E-9-1-1 and fire 
and rescue mobile data systems. All of these improvements helped the 
Fire and Rescue Department better serve the residents of Prince William 
County.
   Chief McGee's efforts have been recognized by numerous entities and 
his leadership has led to the Department receiving several awards and 
citations, including the Governor's Award for Outstanding EMS Agency in 
2003 and the 2019 Northern Virginia EMS Council's EMS Agency Award.
   I was first elected to Congress shortly after Chief McGee was 
appointed Chief of the Fire and Rescue Department. I had worked with 
him previously during my time as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board 
of Supervisors on various regional boards and commissions. The 
partnership that we had built during my time in local government 
continued in Congress.
   I was fortunate to do several ride-alongs and facility tours with 
the Chief and saw firsthand his dedication to the men and women who 
served with him and to the residents of Prince William County. One case 
in particular will always stand out. Chief McGee and I worked together 
to get federal benefits restored to a Prince William County first 
responder who fell in the line of duty. The Justice Department had 
originally denied the claim, but working with Chief McGee we were able 
to get that decision reversed and make whole in one small way the 
family members of that first responder.
   Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
Chief Kevin McGee on his almost four decades of service to Prince 
William County and to Northern Virginia. Though he may be retiring, I 
suspect that he will continue to remain engaged on the causes that are 
close to his heart and he will never be far from a fire station in 
Prince William County. I wish him all the best in retirement.

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