Arlington County is changing how it handles healthcare in its jail—and it’s starting with a big hire.
Dr. Richard Malish, a retired U.S. Army colonel with three decades of military medical experience, has been named the first-ever Chief Medical Director for the Arlington County Detention Facility. His hiring marks the start of a major shift: the Sheriff’s Office is moving away from contracted inmate healthcare and bringing it under direct county control.
Sheriff Jose Quiroz, who pushed for the new position, said Dr. Malish’s leadership is a key step in that transition.
“I am committed to improving the medical care for the incarcerated people in Arlington,” Sheriff Quiroz said. “This is the first step in transitioning from contracted medical care to a county-run program led by Dr. Malish.”
Dr. Malish will oversee all medical care inside the detention center, focusing on providing consistent, high-quality treatment that meets professional and ethical standards. For him, the job is personal.
“Providing quality healthcare in a correctional setting is both a responsibility and a privilege,” he said. “I look forward to working with the dedicated professionals at the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office to ensure the best possible outcomes for those in our care.”
The County Board approved the new role earlier this year. Over the next 12 months, all medical positions under the current contractor—Falcon Correctional and Community Services, Inc.—will shift to county employees. Falcon will stay on during the transition to help smooth the handoff.
Dr. Malish’s resume is steep. He’s a Johns Hopkins graduate and a former Army surgeon who served in leadership roles worldwide, including combat zones. He’s trained in internal medicine and cardiology, leading major military hospitals like Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center. His last assignment was as Deputy Chief of Staff for Quality and Safety for the Army Surgeon General.