New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol has submitted his resignation to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, saying he will step down next month after more than three years leading the agency.
In a resignation letter obtained by NY1, Iscol wrote that his last day will be Feb. 11, saying it was “an extraordinary honor to serve the people of New York City.”
Iscol did not give a reason for his departure, but told Mamdani he leaves with confidence in the agency’s readiness.
What You Need To Know
Zach Iscol will step down as NYC Emergency Management commissioner on Feb. 11
He was appointed in 2022 by former Mayor Eric Adams and was reappointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani in December
Iscol oversaw responses to extreme weather, wildfires, cyber incidents and the migrant crisis
He leaves citing improved staffing, retention and preparedness at the agency
“I leave knowing the agency is in exceptionally strong hands. Four years ago, we carried nearly 60 vacancies and were still recovering from the operational strain of the pandemic,” he wrote.
“Today, all executive leadership positions are filled, and the agency is experiencing the highest retention and lowest vacancy rates in recent history,” he added. “Most importantly, the team is better prepared and ready to meet the evolving threats facing our city.”
In his letter, he said the agency responded to a number of “complex” situations during his tenure, including extreme weather, smoke from Canadian wildfires, record-breaking rainfall, cyber incidents and the city’s migrant crisis.
He also highlighted his early planning efforts for major events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Sail4th 250 celebration, which will bring a flotilla of tall ships to the city to mark the 250th birthday of the U.S.
Iscol, a former Marine Corps officer who served two tours in Iraq, was appointed commissioner by then-Mayor Eric Adams in 2022. Before joining city government, he founded the Headstrong Project, a nonprofit mental health organization serving veterans nationwide, and played a senior role coordinating New York City’s COVID-19 field hospital response, according to NYCEM’s website.
He briefly ran for mayor in 2020 and early 2021, seeking to succeed former Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Despite the change in leadership at City Hall, Mamdani announced in December that he would keep Iscol on at NYCEM as interim commissioner “to deliver continuity and stability during snow season.”
NY1 has reached out to City Hall for comment.