Jerome Hatfield serves as the Regional Administrator in FEMA Region II. Appointed by President Obama in November 2013, he directs all aspects of federal emergency management for the States of New York and New Jersey, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Territory of the United States Virgin Islands and the Native American Tribes in the Region.
Hatfield oversees FEMA’s Hurricane Sandy recovery effort in New York and New Jersey, implementing recovery innovations such as the Public Assistance Pilot Procedures Program to help streamline and maximize the delivery of assistance. Hatfield is responsible for a financial portfolio that reflects allocations to New York and New Jersey in upwards of $20 billion. As the Regional steward of disaster relief funds, Hatfield emphasizes mitigating hazards and promoting resiliency to meet the challenges of climate change. Of the $11.6 billion in FEMA Public Assistance dollars provided to New York and New Jersey for infrastructure repair and restoration, $3.5 billion has been invested in mitigation efforts to protect against future storms.
Hatfield promotes cross-pollination of ideas, information sharing and coordination of effort among FEMA’s program branches and external partners. He plays a pivotal role in the New York/New Jersey Federal Leadership Resilience Collaborative, consisting of Regional Administrators from six federal agencies dedicated to Hurricane Sandy rebuilding strategy. In partnering with traditional and contemporary stakeholders, incorporating public and private sectors, faith-based institutions, private non-profits, and volunteer organizations, Hatfield fosters an inclusive, whole community approach to survivor-centric engagement that emphasizes outreach to the Region’s vulnerable populations of seniors, immigrants and people with disabilities.
Hatfield is federal lead for consequence management in support of crisis management operations for National Special Security Events in the Region, such as United Nations General Assemblies, the visit of Pope Francis and Super Bowl XLVIII.
Hatfield is a 27-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police where as a Lieutenant Colonel he served as the Deputy Superintendent of Homeland Security, overseeing more than 80 state and federal grant programs. He was responsible for strategic, tactical and operational coordination of personnel in special operations while also serving as the deputy director of the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management.
As a former Chairman to the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP), Hatfield was responsible for conducting nationwide assessments of state, territorial, federal and local emergency management and homeland security programs. In this role he led EMAP liaisons to Kenya in support of international assessments conducted in conjunction with other federal agencies. Additionally, he served as a member of the National Advisory Council (NAC) where he chaired the response and recovery subcommittee.
Hatfield holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and is a graduate of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, Naval Post Graduate School, Executive Leader’s Program. He is a veteran of the United States Army and a Certified Public Manager (CPM), awarded by Farleigh Dickinson University.