WHEREAS, John Niemiec, an exceptional member of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department who has made many valuable contributions to the field of public safety throughout the Commonwealth, retired from the department as a captain in February 2018 after more than three decades of service; and

WHEREAS, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, John Niemiec worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C., before joining the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in 1986; and

WHEREAS, John Niemiec safeguarded the lives and property of Fairfax County residents for 32 years, played a pivotal role in the creation of the department's Occupational Health Center, and served as health programs officer with the Safety and Personnel Services Division; and

WHEREAS, throughout his career as a firefighter, John Niemiec was a loyal member of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 2068, serving as president for more than 10 years, as vice president for four years, and as a member of the executive board for 17 years; and

WHEREAS, among his proudest accomplishments, John Niemiec worked diligently to preserve the well-deserved benefits of career first responders, achieving a reduction of the Social Security disability offset and advocating for legislation on infectious disease presumption for firefighters in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, John Niemiec earned numerous awards and accolades for his efforts to support firefighters and first responders, including the Don Smith Award for outstanding service rendered to Fairfax County employees, two Career Achievement Awards, and an Outstanding Performance Award; and

WHEREAS, John Niemiec will continue to serve firefighters and first responders as a state policy and legislative representative in the Governmental Affairs and Public Policy Division of the IAFF in Washington, D.C.; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That John Niemiec hereby be commended on the occasion of his retirement from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to John Niemiec as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for his legacy of service to the residents of Fairfax County and passionate advocacy on behalf of his fellow firefighters and first responders.