Michael P. Neuhard

Michael P. 'Mike' Neuhard was the Chief of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department from 2003 to 2007.

Neuhard began his career as a Fairfax County firefighter on January 3, 1977, when he entered the department's recruit school. Graduating at the top of his class, Neuhard began working at the Penn Daw Station in Alexandria in April of that year.

Neuhard would spend nearly 10 years at Penn Daw until his promotion to Lieutenant in 1986. As a Lieutenant, Neuhard was assigned to the Fire and Rescue Academy as a field training officer, and remained there until his promotion to Captain in 1989.

Captain Neuhard was assigned to the Oakton Station and placed in charge of the Hazardous Materials Team.

In 1991, Neuhard was assigned to the Chief's Office as Hazardous Materials Technical Coordinator.

Two years later, Neuhard was promoted to Battalion Chief and became the head of the Hazardous Materials and Investigative Services Section. Battalion Chief Neuhard was next tasked with starting up the new Enforcement and Investigation Division in the Fire Marshal's Office.

In 1999, Neuhard was promoted to Deputy Chief and placed in charge of Emergency Medical Services and Special Operations. The next year he was promoted again to Assistant Fire Chief for Administration, taking over on July 15, 2000.

On May 2, 2003, Neuhard was named acting chief to replace the retiring Edward L. Stinnette. Neuhard's appointment as chief was made permanent a month later, when the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed him on June 2, 2003.

Neuhard announced his intention to retire from the department on October 26, 2006, to become a deputy county administrator for Stafford County, Virginia. His last official act as Chief was to graduate the 120th recruit class at the Fire and Rescue Academy on February 2, 2007.