Julius D. "JD" Spain, Sr.
Member, Arlington County Board
Hon. Julius D. “JD” Spain, Sr. was elected to the Arlington County Board in November 2024, achieving a historic milestone as this was the first general election in Arlington conducted using ranked choice voting. His election reflects a career dedicated to principled leadership, public service, and a sustained commitment to community.
A former drill instructor and retired combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Spain served his country with distinction for 26 years. He deployed in the first wave of American forces with Task Force Tarawa during the 2003 OIF-1 invasion of Iraq and subsequently completed a four-year diplomatic assignment in Brussels, Belgium, providing operational and administrative support to senior United States leaders, including the United States Ambassador to NATO, the Secretary of State, and the President of the United States. His service continued on Capitol Hill as a congressional fellow in the United States Senate in 2011, followed by senior advisory roles with the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs and as a federal investigator with the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. He retired in 2016 at the highest enlisted rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant E9 and was awarded the Legion of Merit in recognition of exceptional leadership and service.
In the private sector, Spain served as a senior business leader at a management consulting firm in Tysons Corner, Virginia, where he led a diverse portfolio of initiatives supporting acquisition intelligence, intelligence programs, C-suite executives, government agencies, academic institutions, and human capital partners. He is an active member of George Mason University’s President’s Innovation Council and Inclusive Excellence Council, advancing innovation, equity, and economic opportunity in higher education and the regional economy.
Spain’s commitment to civic engagement is evident across Arlington’s community. He was appointed by the County Board to the Civil Service Commission in 2015, advising on workforce policies, and in 2018 he was elected President of the NAACP Arlington Branch, serving two terms. He later served as Regional Vice President for Virginia, overseeing thirteen NAACP branches in Northern Virginia. He also served as a delegate to the Arlington Civic Federation and holds membership at a myriad of non-profit community organizations. Under his leadership, the NAACP Arlington Branch earned the FBI Washington Field Office Community Leadership Award, the James B. Hunter Human Rights Award from the Arlington Human Rights Commission, and the National Thalheimer Award, the NAACP’s highest recognition for branch excellence.
Spain is also a Thirty Third Degree Scottish Rite Freemason, an honorary distinction recognizing extraordinary service and leadership within Freemasonry. He has served as a formerly elected Grand Lodge Officer of Prince Hall Freemasons in Virginia, including on the Grand Lodge Board of Directors, and as leader of Arlington Lodge #58. He is also a Shriner.
Spain holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Maryland, University College, advanced credentials in Legislative Affairs from Georgetown University, and is a graduate of George Mason University’s School of Business Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Executive Development Program, a five-month executive program focused on building inclusive, strategic frameworks that empower individuals at all levels to contribute meaningfully to organizational success.
A longtime Arlington resident, Spain and his wife of 33 years have lived in the historic Butler- Holmes subdivision of the Penrose community since 2009. They are the proud parents of three adult children, all graduates of Arlington Public Schools, and devoted grandparents to their granddaughter. Their family’s deep roots in community affairs continue to inspire Spain’s dedication to serve Arlington with integrity, fairness, and vision.