New York – Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the appointment of Jerome Hatfield by President Barack Obama to serve as the Regional Administrator for FEMA Region II.

“We’re proud to welcome such a dedicated first responder and emergency manager to the FEMA team,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Jerome will be working in his own backyard – a region where he has served disaster survivors for nearly three decades. As Regional Administrator, Jerome will continue to be their champion as he supports the region’s resiliency and response to disasters.”

Click here for an official photograph of Regional Administrator Hatfield

Hatfield is a 27 year veteran of the New Jersey State Police where as a Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded more than 800 enlisted, professional and administrative staff, and as the Deputy Superintendent of Homeland Security oversaw more than 80 state and federal grant programs.

Hatfield has served as a member of the National Advisory Council to FEMA, and is Vice-Chairman to the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) which is responsible for conducting nationwide assessments of federal, state, territorial and local emergency management and homeland security programs.  Additionally, he has led EMAP liaisons to Kenya in support of international assessments conducted in conjunction with the Department of Defense (U.S. African Command) and the Center for Disease and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine (CDHAM).

In September 2005, Hatfield was deployed to the State of Louisiana with more than 600 of New Jersey’s first responders in support of Hurricane Katrina response efforts.  He was designated incident commander during Operation LEAD (Louisiana Emergency Assistance Deployment).

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.  LTC Hatfield is a Certified Public Manager (CPM), awarded by Farleigh Dickinson University.  He is married with two children.

As Regional Administrator for FEMA Region II, Hatfield will oversee FEMA’s operations in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and work closely with state, territorial and local emergency managers in their on-going efforts to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate disasters.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.