Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a world-class center of commerce and trade and the technology hub of the east coast. It is the largest jurisdiction in the National Capital region with a million people, more than 580,000 jobs, a county budget larger than those of four states, and the lowest rate of violent crime in the country.
The county is well known as a wonderful place to live, work, and play. It was named “one of the best-managed jurisdictions in America” by Governing Magazine and has consistently received bond ratings of Aaa from Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch Investors Service—only 23 other counties in the United States have received Aaa ratings from all three bond-rating services. All of this happened under the leadership of County Manager Tony Griffin.
One of Griffin’s most significant challenges, which led to a lasting achievement regionally, came early in his tenure: the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the Pentagon. As chair of the Chief Administrative Officers Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), Griffin led regional efforts to coordinate local government decisions and responses to the emergency. With several dozen local governments facing the challenges of evacuations, traffic gridlock, public/student safety, mutual aid agreements and need for coordinated communication, his leadership was critical to ensure there was no interruption to government services and to provide information and calm guidance so crucial that day.
Based on the lessons learned from the post-9/11 experiences, under Griffin’s leadership, COG established a framework for regional disaster response. This unique structure ensures that the National Capital region—composed of 17 local jurisdictions, two states, and the District of Columbia—prepares for and responds to disasters collaboratively. This ongoing regional effort was particularly vital a month later during the anthrax incidents, followed by the 2002 regional sniper attacks, the historic 2009 Inauguration Day events, as well as 2010’s H1N1 pandemic and massive snowstorms.
Griffin received the Stone Practitioner Award from the American Society of Public Administration for his commitment to improve intergovernmental cooperation, especially in response to the 9/11 terrorist attack, the anthrax incidents, and the sniper attacks. In April 2010, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano appointed Griffin to the local, state, tribal, and federal Preparedness Task Force—a council of experts charged with assessing the state of the nation’s disaster preparedness and making recommendations about ways to build resiliency in communities across America.
Meet the Manager
