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.<\/p>\n
In a resignation letter obtained by NY1, Iscol wrote that his last day will be Feb. 11, saying it was \u201can extraordinary honor to serve the people of New York City.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iscol did not give a reason for his departure, but told Mamdani he leaves with confidence in the agency\u2019s readiness.<\/p>\n
What You Need To Know<\/p>\n
Zach Iscol will step down as NYC Emergency Management commissioner on Feb. 11
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He was appointed in 2022 by former Mayor Eric Adams and was reappointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani in December
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Iscol oversaw responses to extreme weather, wildfires, cyber incidents and the migrant crisis
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He leaves citing improved staffing, retention and preparedness at the agency<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, all executive leadership positions are filled, and the agency is experiencing the highest retention and lowest vacancy rates in recent history,\u201d he added. \u201cMost importantly, the team is better prepared and ready to meet the evolving threats facing our city.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his letter, he said the agency responded to a number of \u201ccomplex\u201d situations during his tenure, including extreme weather, smoke from Canadian wildfires, record-breaking rainfall, cyber incidents and the city\u2019s migrant crisis.<\/p>\n
He also highlighted his early planning efforts for major events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a> and the Sail4th 250 celebration<\/a>,\u00a0which will bring a flotilla of tall ships to the city to mark the 250th birthday of the U.S.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s COVID-19 field hospital response, according to NYCEM\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n