Growing up in Gainesville, VA, Charles (John) Sakevich, who attended Battleview High School and graduated from Shenandoah Valley Academy in 2012, thought he would pursue a career in law or law enforcement when he entered George Mason University (GMU). While John matriculated with a major in Criminology in 2016, and like so many college graduates, “life happens” and interests change. In fact, for him those changes started to occur when still in college while working as a lifeguard at the GMU Freedom Center in Manassas, when a fellow lifeguard and GMVRS volunteer suggested he check out the Rescue Squad. That was in 2013, and John did just that. He joined that year, attended and passed the Squad-provided EMT training program, became a certified EMT-B in 2014, and a EMT-B provider that same year. John had found his passion!

After graduating college, John became a full time Medical Technician in the INOVA Fairfax Hospital’s Emergency Room, gaining experience and confirming his desire to pursue a career in emergency medicine. Also in 2016, the GMVRS supported John’s application to attend paramedic training, and funding was approved by the City of Manassas Fire and Rescue Department. He successfully completed the year-long program and became a National Registry Paramedic in 2017. All this was done while John served as an EMT-B provider for the Squad, staffing one night a week and regularly on weekends.

John’s career was also evolving. In 2019, John was hired as a full-time civilian paramedic at Ft Belvoir Army Hospital, where he joined two other GMVRS volunteers employed as paramedics there; Nancy Orndoff and Adam Sampiller. During the same year, John completed his ALS (Medic) intern program within the City of Manassas Fire and Rescue System and became a “cut loose” volunteer medic provider for the Squad. His latest significant certification was achieved in 2020, when John successfully completed the Flight Paramedic training program, and certified as a Flight Paramedic (FP-C).

When asked what was most rewarding aspect of his volunteer experience with the GMVRS, John said; “it was about the comradery with my fellow Squad members and career staff, and the excitement of not knowing what will happen on the next call. No two shifts are ever the same.”

Most recently, in April 2022, John was hired by the City of Manassas Fire and Rescue Department at a Firefighter/Medic. While it’s difficult to lose a valuable volunteer member, we recognize that this is a good career move for John and a net gain for our community.