Defense Coordinating Officer for Federal Emergency Management Agency Region II, United States Army North

COL Scott Heintzelman is the United States Army North (Fifth Army) Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO) for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II. He is the Department of Defense representative for coordinating federal military support to civilian government officials within New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.

COL Scott W. Heintzelman’s Army career began when he joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in April 1986 and completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, GA that summer. His first assignment was as an infantry scout, Combat Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 110th Infantry, Indiana, Pennsylvania. After completing four years of Army ROTC at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, he was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate in the Infantry in May   1989.

After completing the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School, his initial tour of duty began with the 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment (Manchus), 7th Infantry Division (Light) at Fort Ord, California and then Fort Lewis, Washington from January 1989 to May 1994. He served as a rifle platoon leader, weapons platoon leader, support platoon leader, HHC executive officer, battalion A/S3 and brigade A/S3. During his time at Fort Ord, he deployed to Panama as a rifle platoon leader for OPERATION PROMOTE LIBERTY and also completed the Jungle Operations Training Course. Following his tour of duty at Fort Lewis, he attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course from June to November 1994 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

COL Heintzelman was then assigned to the 4th Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii in December 1994. While serving in this position, he deployed to Haiti as a battalion S1 for OPERATION UPHOLD DEMOCRACY. He then served as the S1 for 2nd Brigade, followed by command of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry until March 1998. While serving as a rifle company commander, he deployed his company to Exercise NORTHWIND 98 in Japan.

After company command, he moved to the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana and was assigned as an Infantry Observer/Controller. From April 1998 to June 2001, COL Heintzelman served as a rifle platoon O/C, rifle company O/C, an S3 operations O/C, and as the senior battalion analyst for Task Force 2.

From July 2001 to May 2003, he attended the Command and General Staff College and School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

After completing CGSC and SAMS, COL Heintzelman was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) at Fort Drum, New York, from May 2003 until June 2007. Upon arrival at Fort Drum, he deployed to Afghanistan and served as the CJ35, Chief of Operational Plans, Combined Joint Task Force 180 in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. Upon redeployment, he was assigned as the Brigade S3 for the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, one of the Army’s first modular brigades. In February 2006, he deployed a second time to Afghanistan as the Brigade S3 and then Brigade XO of Combined Task Force Spartan and Regional Command East until April 2007.

In June 2007, COL Heintzelman moved to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where he commanded the 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry from July 2007 until June 2009. He was then assigned as the Director, TRADOC Leader Development Division, also known as “Victory University,” from June 2009 until June 2011. In this position, COL Heintzelman served as the primary coach, teach and mentor for both the Initial Military Training Pre-Command Course and Company Commander and First Sergeant Course.

COL Heintzelman attended the U.S. Army War College from August 2011 until June 2012. Following graduation, he served in Korea as the G35, Chief of Future Operations, Eighth Army, from June 2012 until June 2013. COL Heintzelman took command of 2nd Brigade, U.S. Army Cadet Command at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in July 2013 and led this organization until May 2015. He assumed his current duties as Defense Coordinating Officer, FEMA Region II, on 15 June 2015.

COL Heintzelman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Masters in Strategy from the U.S. Army War College, a Masters of Military Arts and Science Degree from the School of Advanced Military Studies and a Masters of Arts in Liberal Arts (concentration in Military History) from Louisiana State University.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (1OLC), Bronze Star Medal (1OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal (4OLCs), the Army Commendation Medal (2OLCs), the Army Achievement Medal (3OLCs), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Citation (1OLC), the Army Superior Unit Award (1OLC), National Defense Service Medal with star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with star, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Ribbon (w/#4), the NATO Medal, the Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge and the Air Assault Badge. He has completed Combatives Level 1 and is a certified Master Resilience Trainer.

COL Heintzelman and his wife of 23 years, Mary, have two children: Anthony (16) and Emily (13). He is an avid marathoner and a member of the Marathon Maniacs Association with a goal of running marathons in all 50 U.S. States.