John Scardena has been named Chief of Staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), serving under Administrator Hamilton and bringing extensive experience in emergency management, disaster response, and public safety leadership.
Scardena previously served at FEMA as an Emergency Manager and National Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) Unit Leader, where he supported major disaster response operations and led field teams during complex incidents.
During his time with FEMA, Scardena served as a GIS Unit Leader and subject matter expert with National IMAT-West, one of FEMA’s three congressionally mandated national strike teams. He supervised emergency management teams, managed disaster analytics, and supported response operations involving critical infrastructure, vulnerable populations, economic impacts, and mitigation needs.
His FEMA deployments included responses to Hurricane Harvey, the 2017 California wildfires, Midwest flooding, Georgia tornadoes and floods, and Hurricane Matthew. He also developed FEMA’s first tactical-level unmanned aircraft system (UAS) program and supported the use of aerial capabilities during disaster response operations.
Before returning to FEMA, Scardena founded The Readiness Lab, an emergency management education and innovation organization focused on supporting disaster response professionals through training, technology evaluation, and cross-sector collaboration. He also founded Doberman Emergency Management Group, where he advised senior leaders, designed national-level exercises, and supported complex operations involving public safety, military, academic, and private-sector partners.
Scardena’s previous work included supporting U.S. military and NATO Allied Land Command readiness efforts, including guidance on urban warfare emergency management doctrine and CBRNe exercises.
He has also served as an adjunct professor in Saint Louis University’s Emergency Management Master’s Program and worked as a Business Intelligence Project Manager at Apple, where he led data science projects and managed analytics teams.
Earlier in his career, Scardena served as an Emergency Operations Planner at the National Cancer Institute, where he developed emergency plans, coordinated with federal and local partners, and supported continuity of operations, physical security, and cybersecurity efforts.
Scardena holds a master’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in Emergency Services Administration with a focus on Emergency and Disaster Management from Utah Valley University.
