John Scrivani is the expected new Commissioner of New York City Emergency Management. Image Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
Scrivani is a 14-year veteran of the NYPD with extensive experience in emergency management. On March 17, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the expected appointment of John Scrivani as the Commissioner of New York City Emergency Management. The expected appointment follows the pending approval of current Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell as Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by the U.S. Senate.
John Scrivani is a native New Yorker from Staten Island and a graduate of the State University of New York, Excelsior College. He served in the NYPD for 14 years where he was a member of the Emergency Service Unit and retired as Commanding Officer of the Emergency Services Unit Hazardous Materials-Weapons of Mass Destruction Response Team. He has also served in City government for over two decades. From 2008 – 2009, he served as Deputy Director of the Special Operations Division at the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner. While in this position, he oversaw the operations and safety management for the World Trade center Potential Human Remains Recovery Project.
Scrivani served as the New York City Emergency Management Deputy Commissioner for Operations from 2009 – 2011. He also played a role as part of the City’s response to Super Storm Sandy, serving as Special Assistant to the Deputy Mayor for Operations handling Super Storm Sandy Recovery Projects.
Most recently, Scrivani has served in multiple emergency management roles in Virginia. Between 2014 to 2017, he served as Division Administrator, Safety, Security & Emergency Management at the Virginia Department of Transportation. Scrivani served as Deputy State Coordinator for Disaster Services at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management until March 2019, when he was most recently appointed as Director of the Office of Safety, Security & Emergency Management at the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Scrivani’s expected appointment comes as the City continues its ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor de Blasio stated, “John Scrivani is an experienced, creative, and battle-tested leader who will keep New York City moving – no matter which challenges we face next. I’m looking forward to working with him to keep this city safe, and I know he’ll build on Commissioner Criswell’s extraordinary record to build a recovery for all of us.”
John Scrivani stated, “I’ve devoted my career to serving my fellow citizens – in good times, and in times of crisis. I thank Mayor de Blasio for entrusting me with this important role, and I look forward to helping this city continue to prepare, respond and recover. When New York City needs me, I’ll be there.”
By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the CityLaw fellow and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)