John Rabin serves as the FEMA Assistant Administrator for Response, where he is responsible for the delivery of a coordinated Federal emergency management response to state, local, tribal, and territorial communities that have been impacted by natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other emergencies. This includes the leadership and management of the National Urban Search and Rescue System, Disaster Emergency Communications, the National Response Coordination Center, and numerous national planning, warning, and reporting organizations.
Prior to Mr. Rabin leading the Response Directorate, he served as the Assistant Administrator for Field Operations, where he was responsible for developing, maintaining, and deploying the more than 13,000 disaster workforce personnel. From May to October 2017, Mr. Rabin served as the Acting Regional Administrator of FEMA Region II, where he directed all aspects of federal emergency management for the States of New Jersey and New York, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Territory of the United States Virgin Islands and the Federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Region. During Hurricanes Irma and Maria, he was on the ground in Puerto Rico and in the U.S. Virgin Islands, leading the region in the complex lifesaving and life-sustaining operations.
Prior to his assignment in Field Operations and Region II, Mr. Rabin served as Deputy Assistant Administrator for National Preparedness. In this role, he led the day-to-day operations that provided the guidance, training, exercises, and programs to prepare the Nation to prevent, protect from, respond to, and recover from all hazards.
A firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT), Mr. Rabin is also a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and the Executive Leaders Program at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security.