Adams appoints Emergency Management leadership team

Iscol named commissioner, Farrell is 1st deputy commissioner

February 17, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Mayor Eric Adams introduces NYCEM Commissioner Zachary Iscol and First Deputy Commissioner Christina Farrell. Mayor’s Office photo by Michael Appleton

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Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced two appointments to lead New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM), which is headquartered at Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn and is tasked with coordinating citywide emergency planning and response.

Zachary Iscol will serve as commissioner of NYCEM. Christina Farrell will serve as first deputy commissioner, the first woman ever to serve in that role. She previously served as acting commissioner.

Iscol previously pulled together over 40 federal, state, and city agencies as the deputy director of Joint New York Medical Station, one of the largest and only successful COVID-19 field hospitals in the country. He recently ran for New York City comptroller.

As a U.S. Marine, Iscol served two tours in Iraq and on other assignments throughout Africa and the Middle East. During his second tour of duty, he led a combined unit of U.S. Marines and Iraqi soldiers in some of the heaviest fighting of the Iraq War during the Second Battle of Fallujah, where he was awarded a Bronze Star for valor.

The New York City Emergency Management headquarters at 165 Cadman Plaza East, Downtown Brooklyn. Originally, the building was the Brooklyn Red Cross headquarters.
Photo courtesy of NYCEM

During the past decade, Iscol has built and led businesses and a non-profit health care provider, the Headstrong Project. The Headstrong Project now cares for more than 1,000 veterans a week, in more than 30 cities, and provides cost-free mental health care to veterans and service members so that they can recover from hidden wounds and get back to the best versions of themselves.

Farrell has been acting first deputy since October 2021 and acting commissioner since January 2022. Since the beginning of 2022, Farrell managed the citywide response to multiple snowstorms, the tragic Bronx fire, and multiple building explosions. During her time at the agency, she has served as the director of grants, as well as assistant commissioner and deputy commissioner of external affairs.

NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zachary Iscol. Photo courtesy of NYCEM

Under her leadership, foundational programs at New York City Emergency Management have been created and grown to national prominence, including the New York City Community Emergency Response Team Program, Ready New York, and Notify NYC. A city employee for more than 27 years, Farrell started at New York City Emergency Management in 2003.

“I am honored to be officially named the first female First Deputy Commissioner of New York City Emergency Management, an agency like no other,” said Farrell. “Over the past 19 years, I have been proud every day to help the residents of New York City during many emergencies, including the 2003 citywide blackout, Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, Ebola, building explosions, blizzards, and, of course, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

NYC Emergency Management First Deputy Commissioner Christina Farrell. Photo courtesy of NYCEM

“Emergencies are inevitable in a city as large and dynamic as ours and, sadly, we have already faced a number of them during my first six weeks in office,” said Adams. “One of the core functions of government is to keep people safe. Ensuring we have strong leadership to prepare for emergencies and respond appropriately when they occur is critical to this mission. I am proud to have Zach Iscol and Christina Farrell join our team.”