A member of the Fairfax City Council has been named one of Northern Virginia’s “40 Under 40” for 2026 in honor of his professional and civic contributions.
Anthony Amos will be among those celebrated at two events set for April 14, jointly sponsored by Leadership Fairfax and the Leadership Center of Arlington.
“This program celebrates emerging leaders who demonstrate exceptional and impactful leadership in their professional and personal spheres within the Northern Virginia region,” the organizations said in a joint statement announcing the honorees.
Amos, 27, said he greatly appreciated being included in the ranks of 2026 honorees.
“This diversity in representation is truly remarkable, and I’m honored to be one of the selected with such esteemed company,” he told FFXnow, adding:
“This 2026 cohort of the Northern Virginia 40 Under 40 is expansive and impacts day-to-day operations at all levels. Government contracting, secondary and post-secondary education, nonprofits, local government — this selection of honorees speaks on every sector and topic that you can imagine.”
In 2023, Amos was among 11 candidates contesting the six seats on the Fairfax City Council. He emerged victorious, finishing fifth, and is expected to seek reelection when council seats return to the ballot this November.
Amos’s engagement extends beyond his service on the city council. He has been active in the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and a number of regional groups, including the League of Women Voters and the NAACP.
In 2024, Amos earned a master of public policy degree from George Mason University. Professionally, he is a development associate with the Michaels Organization, addressing affordable housing development throughout the Mid-Atlantic.
At the state level, Amos serves as a member of the Virginia Charitable Gaming Board.
Leaders of the organizations sponsoring “40 Under 40” said those receiving the 2026 awards spanned a wide spectrum of community engagement.
“Their leadership and civic engagement stand out as stellar examples of inspirational leaders working to build thriving communities,” Leadership Fairfax President and CEO Kia Cole-Hines said.
“In a quickly evolving world, this year’s honorees shine a light on the values of curiosity, innovation, empathy and service,” added Lisa Fikes, president and CEO of the Leadership Center.
“Through both their professional and personal lives, they are meeting the moment and making a positive impact in our region,” Fikes said.
An online celebration of honorees is slated for April 14 at 11 a.m., with a reception taking place at 4:30 p.m. at Caboose Commons in Merrifield.
In addition to Amos, 2026 honorees include:
- Ijeoma Agbaraji, Booz Allen Hamilton
- Camila Alfonzo Meza, Tysons Community Alliance
- Alen Amini, C3 AI
- José Aramayo Pefaure, Arlington County Department of Human Services
- Christine Baker, Arlington County Department of Transportation
- Sara Bellakbira, AstraZeneca
- Aden Beyene, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
- Emily Braxton, Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation
- Christina Burrow, Fairfax County Police Department
- Ashley Cantatore, The Arc of Northern Virginia
- Charlin D. Caster, Southern Poverty Law Center and Learning for Justice
- Andres Curtin Campos, Second Story
- B. Kerem Demirci, Orr Partners
- Mahathi Devulapalli, Salesforce
- Taylor Frech, Hilton
- Laura Genovese, Manufactured Housing Institute
- Maxwell Gocala-Nguyen, George Mason University, Costello College of Business
- Jacob Harrer, Fairfax County Public Schools
- Alli C. Henry, Rosslyn Business Improvement District
- Jamee Hood, Arlington Community Foundation
- Steve Inch, TriVistaUSA Design + Build
- Melat Johnson, Arlington County Department of Human Services
- Ashley Jones, VHC Health
- Jonathan Keenan, RPCVnexus
- Joseph Kornhoff, Pentagon Memorial Fund
- Leah Martinez, Arlington County Fire Department
- Valery Maya, Zocalo Health
- Brian Meiggs, Meiggs Media
- Ebenezer Nii Martey, American Pharmacist Association
- Katherine O’Hare, Points of Light
- Alex Sakes, Alex Sakes Photography LLC
- Lourdes Sandoval, Prince William County Public Schools
- Tom Shannon, Phoenix Bikes
- Binita Sharma, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Kevin L. Sheffield, Arlington Community Federal Credit Union
- Dr. Paul Singleton II, The Potomac School
- Jerusalem Solomon, Arlington County, Department of Parks and Recreation
- Victoria Velez, Pearson and GED Testing Service
- Dr. Melissa L. Villodas, George Mason University
