New York City Emergency Management Expands Executive Leadership Team

The New York City Emergency Management Department today announced two new appointments to its executive leadership team.

Yokarina Duarte, who previously served as director of government relations at NYC Emergency Management, will now serve as chief of staff and be an advocate and liaison for NYC Emergency Management’s employees.

She will be responsible for spearheading several cross-functional initiatives to enhance the agency’s internal and external priorities.

Lauren Mahon, who previously served as the agency’s office of strategic operations director, will now serve as chief strategy officer.

In her new role, Mahon will execute the agency’s strategic vision through special projects, as well as enhance NYC Emergency Management’s ability to leverage data to better serve New Yorkers.

Both Duarte and Mahon will assume their new roles immediately.

“This agency is filled with remarkable women who lead and help make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers every day,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “I am thrilled to welcome Yokarina Duarte and Lauren Mahon to our executive leadership team and look forward to the great work they will help our agency achieve.”

“Together with our team, Yokarina and Lauren will help us identify areas for improvement, and structure the best way to implement, measure, and publicize these improvements as they’re made,” said NYC Emergency Management First Deputy Commissioner Christina Farrell. “These two women have been leaders in emergency management, and it is only fitting that their new roles reflect their contributions to the agency and our city.”

Yokarina Duarte

Yokarina Duarte joined NYC Emergency Management in 2015 as an intergovernmental outreach coordinator.

Duarte most recently served as director of intergovernmental affairs, and during her tenure, has greatly expanded the agency’s outreach to the 225 elected officials serving New York City.

In addition to responding to many emergencies in New York City, Duarte has led multiple multi-agency delegations to Puerto Rico — after Hurricane Maria, the 2020 earthquakes, and last June for a training session for the Mayor of San Juan and his executive staff. Duarte is a co-host of “¡Prepárate!,” NYC Emergency Management’s Spanish-language podcast.

Prior to joining NYC Emergency Management, Duarte served as the deputy chief of staff for community affairs for former Council Member and current NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez.

A native of the Dominican Republic, she came to New York City 20 years ago. She is a proud graduate of NYC public schools and City College.

Lauren Mahon

Lauren Mahon joined NYC Emergency Management in 2017, and most recently served as director of the office of strategic operations.

Under her leadership, the office of strategic operations (OSO) has greatly expanded and improved the ability of NYC Emergency Management to use various data streams to visually represent both the impact of emergencies, as well as the effectiveness of the City’s response to these incidents.

OSO has also created the agency’s second strategic plan, which will be released in the coming weeks. She also worked with the Adams transition team last fall to facilitate the agency’s interactions with the new administration.

Before joining NYC Emergency Management, Mahon worked for both Deloitte and Cadmus Group, LLC, a consulting firm, in Washington, DC.

A magna cum laude graduate of Georgetown University, she holds a Master of Science in
biohazardous threat agents and emerging infectious diseases from Georgetown.