Researching Jarrod Bernstein

From April 2009 to September 2011, Bernstein served first as the Local Affairs and then as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs for the United States Department of Homeland Security. In this role, he coordinated DHS’s outreach to mayors and governors. During his tenure at DHS, Bernstein worked extensively on numerous responses to significant events and policy initiatives including the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the earthquake in Haiti, as well as the dissemination of intelligence information to state and local governments during periods of increased threat.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Bernstein was dispatched by the White House to New York City to help coordinate the federal government's response.

Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Bernstein served in the administration of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for seven years. He served as Deputy Commissioner of Community Affairs from 2007-2009. There he was responsible for community crisis management and outreach around mayoral programs. These outreach efforts involved working with diverse communities across the Five Boroughs of New York City to ensure community engagement in the policy process.

Prior to that, he was the chief spokesman with the New York City Office of Emergency Management. He managed the citywide public information efforts around dozens of large scale emergencies including the 2003 blackout, multiple periods of heightened threat, multiple aircraft and boat crashes, dozens of building collapses, as well the 2006 anthrax scare. He was also responsible for writing New York's Emergency Public Information Plan, still in use today.

A New York native, Bernstein received his undergraduate education from Johns Hopkins University, a juris doctor from Fordham University School of Law, and a Certificate from the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He currently lives in New York City with his wife, Hildy Kuryk, and son Jake. Bernstein is a member of the Saltaire Volunteer Fire Company.