Johnson to retire in April

The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System has announced the retirement of System Chief Keith H. Johnson after ten years of service to the LC-CFRS, the Loudoun County community and the National Capitol Region. In October of 2024, an internal message was shared with County leadership and LC-CFRS members announcing his upcoming retirement in April of 2025.

Johnson began his firefighting career with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in 1983 after moving to Northern Virginia from his native Long Island, New York. After working his way through the ranks, Johnson served as Deputy Chief of Training, Deputy Chief of the Special Operations Division and Deputy Chief of the Support Services Division.

Johnson retired from Fairfax in December of 2014 after 31 years of service and accepted the position of Assistant Chief of Operations with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue. In May of 2018, he was appointed as System Chief of the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System.

Some key accomplishments made during Chief Johnson’s tenure include:

• Transitioning the more than 700 career firefighters from three different working schedules to a consistent 24-hour shift.
• Developing LCFR’s first Operational Service Plan in 2019 and three separate LC-CFRS Strategic Plans.
• Oversight of implementation of the Collective Bargaining Ordinance and Agreement with IAFF Local 3756.
• Establishment of a Uniformed Fire Officer program within the Loudoun Emergency Communications Center.
• Creation of the 24-hour Operational Shift Commander program.
• Formation of a robust Behavioral Health section with two practitioners and a peer support program.
• Expansion of the career firefighting workforce from 587 employees in FY2015 to a proposed 867 employees in FY2026.
• Oversight and coordination of six new fire and rescue facilities and ten future Capital Improvement projects such as the new Leesburg South Station #28 and the Fire and Rescue Training Academy expansion.
• Loudoun County’s robust COVID-19 response and vaccination program.
• Implementation of mandatory physicals for all LC-CFRS volunteer members.
• Development and growth of our innovative Fact*r blood delivery program.

Johnson will continue to serve as Chair of the Governor’s appointed Virginia Fire Services Board, serve as a board member of the Governors appointed Virginia’s Board of Housing and Community Development, and is a Past-President of the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association. His work in fire sprinkler advocacy has paved the way for his successors to continue the fight to include these lifesaving systems in more residential homes.

As an advocate for the fire service, Johnson has worked with Virginia lawmakers for years to improve benefits and protections for first responders to include increased behavioral health benefits and increased cancer protections for firefighters.

Throughout his time as System Chief in Loudoun County, Johnson has been committed to providing world-class firefighting and Emergency Medical Services to Loudoun’s residents and visitors has resulted in significant improvements in all areas of our combined fire and rescue system.

Johnson’s leadership has guided LC-CFRS through many challenges—all while demonstrating the founding principles of teamwork, integrity, professionalism and service.