[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9490]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING CHIEF DAVID ROHR UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE FAIRFAX 
                   COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 2010

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize 
Assistant Chief of Operations David Rohr, who is retiring from the 
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and will take over as Fire 
Chief for The City of Fairfax Fire Department.
  Native to Vienna, Va., Chief Rohr developed an interest in fire 
fighting at an early age. He became involved with his local volunteer 
fire department at the age of 16. It did not take long for Chief Rohr 
to realize this was to become his life's pursuit. Upon graduating from 
high school, he began working for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue 
Department's Annandale Station. After four years, Chief Rohr was 
promoted to driver and later Sergeant. Over the next 18 years he 
continued to move up the ranks to the position of Assistant Chief of 
Operations.
  Chief Rohr is an accomplished firefighter and leader in one of the 
finest and most respected fire departments in the country. Besides its 
superb service in Fairfax, the department has a world-class urban 
search and rescue team that has provided critical assistance during the 
aftermaths of major catastrophes such as Hurricane Katrina, the 
Indonesian tsunami, and earthquakes. The team most recently spent 
several weeks in Haiti searching for victims of that devastating quake.
  Chief Rohr's skills as a firefighter are grounded in rigorous 
education as well as a lifetime of experience. Chief Rohr earned a 
Bachelor of Science degree in technology and management/fire science 
from the University of Maryland. He is a graduate from the National 
Fire Academy's executive fire officer program and has also completed 
the University of Virginia Darien Business School Senior Executive 
Institute and Leadership Development Institute.
  Although Chief Rohr is leaving the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue 
Department, he will continue to serve residents in the 11th 
Congressional District as the new fire chief for Fairfax City. His 
reputation as an effective leader made him the ideal candidate for the 
position and he was appointed by a unanimous vote of the Fairfax City 
Council.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking David Rohr 
for his years of service to the citizens of Fairfax County and to 
congratulate him on his new position as Fire Chief for the City of 
Fairfax. He, along with first responders in every community, are 
deserving of our deepest respect and gratitude.

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