2025 Don Smith Awards
Congratulations!

 At the February 3rd, 2026 meeting of the Board of Supervisors, EAC Chair Norman Hall gave a presentation about the 2025 Don Smith Awards. -

"The Don Smith awards recognize county employees whose efforts to make workplaces better go far above and beyond the tasks that their positions call for. These are not achievement awards earned through job performance: these are selfless acts done with no expectation of personal gain.
 
From the 22 nominations received, we recognize one Honorable Mention.

Maxwell Bijak is described as a go-to person among Wastewater Management staff at DPWES when seeking assistance for challenging problems. Max took on the task of managing an inventory of laboratory equipment, leading to their sale, with proceeds going back to the County. Not only that, but he used his personal 3D printer to design and create water filters that are much easier for staff to transport and demonstrate at schools all over Fairfax County. Smaller: 2 feet tall, not 3. Lighter: 7 pounds, not 17. Less expensive $75, not $400 each.

This year’s Don Smith Award recipient is Aiyah Khan!

In the words of Dru Clarke, who as Assistant Director of Operations for our Department of Public Safety Communications made this nomination:

Communications Operations Supervisor Aiyah Khan exemplifies the very spirit of the Don Smith Award through her extraordinary and voluntary efforts to strengthen the emotional well-being, morale, and sense of belonging among Fairfax County employees. In a time of heightened political polarization, national unrest, and rising emotional strain, COS Khan recognized an urgent need: her colleagues needed a space to be heard, to process, to heal, and to simply be human. What she began as a Cultural Climate Town Hall in April 2025 has now evolved into an ongoing initiative known as the DPSC Brother/Sister Circle: a sanctuary of psychological safety in one of the most high-stress environments in local government.

The original Town Hall initiative was not part of COS Khan’s core responsibilities as a supervisor. It was born purely from her sense of moral responsibility and her deep commitment to the well-being of her colleagues. In response to shifts in the national political climate and their ripple effects on staff morale, COS Khan spearheaded and hosted two Town Hall sessions on April 29 and April 30, 2025, ensuring all employees had access while maintaining operational continuity. These sessions created a rare and powerful opportunity for staff to discuss the emotional, cultural, and societal impacts they were experiencing both inside and outside the workplace.

During these sessions, employees shared stories of racial injustice, cultural trauma, fears surrounding the political climate, challenges related to parenting, health issues, grief, and financial instability caused by government uncertainty. Tears were shed, hands were held, and voices that often go unheard in the fast-paced world of emergency communications were finally given space. COS Khan ensured the environment was not only safe but brave by partnering with Peer Support members to provide onsite resources for anyone needing additional emotional assistance.

Recognizing the overwhelmingly positive response and demonstrated need, COS Khan transformed the Town Hall into the ongoing Brother/Sister Circle. This space now serves as a monthly gathering where employees can discuss life challenges such as government shutdown impacts, new parenthood, mental health struggles, workplace stress, grief, and societal issues, or simply come to listen and support others. The initiative reinforces the idea that DPSC is not just a workplace, but a family. Her message to staff is clear and consistent: You are not alone.

The results of her efforts have been profound. Attendance continues to grow. Employees across shifts and assignments report feeling more connected, more supported, and more valued. The initiative has strengthened peer relationships, reduced emotional isolation, and improved workplace morale by addressing invisible burdens often carried in silence. In a profession where secondary trauma is commonplace, COS Khan has given her colleagues a lifeline rooted in compassion, empathy, and intentional care. COS Khan’s work embodies the essence of Don Smith’s legacy: improving the lives of fellow employees through selfless service and insight beyond formal job duties. Her dedication to psychological safety, equity, and human connection has created a lasting impact that extends beyond DPSC and serves as a model for how leadership can heal."