Volunteer Fire Commission

Shawn P. Stokes is the Vice President of Administration for the Fairfax County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association and Chairman of the Fairfax County Volunteer Fire Commission, a Board of Supervisors (BoS) appointment to advise the BoS and the County Fire Chief on all issues and items pertaining to the volunteer fire service in Fairfax County.

Additionally, Shawn is the Fire Chief of the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department where he leads the operations of a 70-member department. A second-generation member of the fire service, Shawn has been with Dunn Loring for 25 years and has previously served as Treasurer, Secretary and President.

Shawn has spent 20 years in national and international fire service policy with a focus on wildland, volunteer and technology issues including development and evaluation of leadership, recruitment, and retention programs for volunteer fire departments. Additionally, he is a subject matter expert representing the fire service in the cooperative purchasing space working with a major national cooperative purchasing program helping them expand in the public safety market.

He has a Masters of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Operations and a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL.

Frank Pappas serves as the Zone II Commissioner on the Fairfax County Volunteer Fire Commission, where he represents the Franconia, Lorton, and Greater Springfield Volunteer Fire Departments. He was appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to advise the Board and County Fire Chief on matters affecting the volunteer fire service.

Frank brings a governance-focused perspective informed by operational public safety experience. He serves as Vice President of the Lorton Volunteer Fire Department, supporting organizational leadership and operational readiness. He is also an active member of Virginia Task Force 1 and the National Capital Region Incident Management Team, contributing to complex incident response and multi-agency coordination.

In addition to field operations, Frank has led and advised leadership, governance, and organizational effectiveness initiatives across volunteer and combination fire and EMS agencies. His work focuses on leadership development, recruitment and retention, and data-informed innovation that strengthens organizational culture and long-term operational readiness.

Frank holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University and works professionally at the intersection of public safety, events, and economic development, advising on large-scale initiatives that strengthen community resilience, quality of life, and public-private collaboration.

Mike Wendt is the Fire Chief of the Centreville Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD), and is a past President and current Board member of the Fairfax County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (FCVFRA). He joined the fire service in 2007 and has worn multiple hats for both CVFD and FCVFRA. He also served on the organizing committee of the 2016 Virginia Fire Equity and Diversity Conference when it was hosted by Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

Outside the fire service, Mike is an IT operations executive and has worked for several managed services providers. He is passionate about helping organizations fulfill their missions and create value using technology – a passion that he brings to the fire service.

Mike earned a Masters of Science in the Management of Information of Technology from the University of Virginia.

Jeff Snow is the current At-Large Commissioner on the Fairfax County Volunteer Fire Commission. He joined the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department in 2006, where he now serves as the Fire Chief and as an active Firefighter and Paramedic. In 2021 he joined Virginia Task Force 1 as a Disaster Assistance Specialist in the Plans Section.

Professionally, Jeff has a background in data modeling and software development as well as organizational improvement. Recently, he has worked on national Fire and EMS initiatives, and he currently supports the US Air Force’s Fire and Emergency Services.

Jeff earned a BA from the University of Virginia, with an emphasis in Biomedical Ethics. In his spare time he enjoys learning about 20th century history and mid-century modern design, and he is happy when his favorite English Premier League team has a better season than Adam Searle’s team.

Adam Searle is a member of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Dept. (VVFD), Company 2, where he serves in operational leadership as the Deputy Chief. Adam is the Vice President of Operations for the Fairfax County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association and serves on the Volunteer Fire Commission.

Adam began his volunteer EMS/fire career in the United Kingdom with his local ambulance station when he became a first aid provider for his collegiate rugby team. When he moved to the United States his desire to continue as an EMS volunteer crossed the Atlantic with him.

Adam joined Vienna in 2012 and quickly expanded his qualifications to include firefighting, completing firefighter training in 2014, becoming a fire engine driver/operator in 2014, and achieving certification as a volunteer officer in 2021 holding the FCFRD operational rank of Lieutenant.