This page describes the role of the Defense Coordinating Officer in Region II.
Each FEMA Region has a Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO) who serves as the Federal Emergency Management Agency's single point of contact for Department of Defense (DOD) support.
Each DCO has a Defense Coordinating Element (DCE) consisting of a staff and military liaison officers to facilitate coordination and support to activated Emergency Support Functions (ESFs). Specific responsibilities include:
Building synergy and relationships with FEMA staff, State emergency responders, the State Adjutant General and Joint Force Headquarters-State staff
Participating in all local, State, Federal, and DOD Homeland Defense and Civil Support exercises
Coordinating with military installations regarding Base Support Installation (BSI) operations
Conducting National Special Security Event (NSSE) planning and support
Colonel Scott Heintzelman, U.S. Army, is the Defense Coordinating Officer to Region II.