Meet the FirstNet Response Operations Group (ROG)

FirstNet®, Built with AT&T, provides the backup you need to stay connected. Coordinate your public safety response during large events and quickly restore access to the voice and data you need in an emergency. 

Learn more about response and recovery
FirstNet team at large event

Director

Frederick Scalera

  • Fred Scalera is the Director of Program Management and the Response Operations Group for the FirstNet Program at AT&T. He is responsible for facilitating collaborative innovation with FirstNet users and public safety. 

     

    Fred Scalera has a long history of public safety service and innovation. He retired in 2008 as a deputy chief with the Nutley Fire Department in New Jersey. During his time with the Nutley Fire Department, Fred worked on the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Task Force. He was the first Fire Service Arson Investigator to attend a police academy and served as an instructor at the Essex County Police Academy for over 25 years.  

     

    During his career with the Fire Service and municipal government, he became a certified fire official. Other responsibilities included radio communications, the Township Information Technology Bureau and the Emergency Management Coordinator. In addition to serving his home Township of Nutley, Fred served Essex County as a deputy sheriff, deputy director of the County Office of Emergency Management and the Hazardous Material Coordinator. 

     

    Fred served in the New Jersey State Legislature, rising to be the deputy speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly and serving as Chairman of the Homeland Security Preparedness Committee. He also served as the Bureau Chief of Interoperable Communications and was responsible for New Jersey as one of the FirstNet Early Builder projects. 

Deputy Commander for Operations

Thomas Nicolette

  • Thomas Nicolette, Deputy Commander for Operations for the Response Operations Group, is a retired fire captain and former director for the Office of Emergency Management, Township of Nutley, N.J. He served the Nutley Fire Department for 33 Years. 

     

    Thomas served in several levels within the Nutley, NJ Fire Department over his 27 years as a career firefighter, plus 6 years as a volunteer firefighter before starting his career in 1992. His responsibilities included front line firefighting, emergency management, hazardous materials response, instructing and communications.  

     

    Thomas’ understanding of the first responder community help him support the needs of that community across the country. His previous career is what brought him to the FirstNet Program at AT&T.

Deputy Commander for Program Management

Chris Stratmann

  • Chris Stratmann, Deputy Commander, FirstNet Response Operations Group provides strategic and tactical support to 3P, planned and emergent events. He manages the development of programs and policies, internal and external relationships, and long-range planning strategy to further the ROG and FirstNet missions.

     

    Col. Stratmann joined AT&T in March 2018 after retiring from the U.S. Air Force and Kansas National Guard in 2017. He joined the ROG team in June 2020. From 2008 until retiring, Chris was the CIO for the Kansas National Guard and responsible for the operation of the statewide network and National Guard deployable communications. He oversaw the state OEC and served as the Emergency Support Function 2 lead for the State Emergency Operations Center.

     

    His department provided training for the Kansas Statewide Interoperable Communications P25 trunked radio system and had responsibility for the system’s deployable assets. Chris was the original FirstNet Single Point of Contact for Kansas in 2012. Until his retirement, he served as a primary member of the Kansas Governor’s team that evaluated and developed state requirements for FirstNet.

FEMA Region 2, NYC and Federal Section Chief

Sebastian Donaruma

  • Sebastian “Bash” Donaruma, a Section Chief for New York City with the Response Operations Group, is responsible for identifying and supporting the communication needs of emergency personnel during disasters and major public safety events. He coordinates deployment of FirstNet assets during network outages and builds and maintains public safety relationships for the FirstNet Program.

     

    Sebastian has been in public service for more than 35 years, starting his career with the Readington Township Police Department in New Jersey. He was chief of police upon his retirement in 2017. He also served as Readington Township Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator for over 17 years.

     

    In 2017, Sebastian joined AT&T as a FirstNet Consultant for New Jersey. He transitioned to the ROG team in December 2021.

     

    Sebastian is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Section 238 (2009) and an active member of the FBI National Academy Association, International Association of Chiefs Police and New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (past Sergeant-at Arms).

FEMA Region 4 Section Chief

Mark Durr

  • Mark Durr, FEMA Region 4 Section Chief, is the tactical lead for all requests from public safety for FirstNet coverage needs within his region. He directs all activities to identify and implement the appropriate solutions to meet customer requirements for planned and emergent events. He’s also the ROG representative for FEMA activities within his region.

     

    Mark began his public service career in 1987, with the Illinois National Guard. In 1989, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving 13 years. This included tours in Germany and Korea and stateside duty at Fort Campbell in Kentucky with the 101st Airborne and at Fort Sill in Oklahoma and Fort Bragg in North Carolina with the 82nd Airborne.

     

    After completing his tour of duty, Mark joined Ameritech, which later became SBC and then a part of AT&T. He worked 18 years in various roles in sales, customer relations and sales operations before joining the FirstNet Program.

     

     Mark holds a bachelor’s in science with a minor in psychology.

FEMA Region 10 Section Chief

Bryan Green

  • Bryan Green, FEMA Region 10 Section Chief, is the tactical lead for all requests from public safety for FirstNet coverage needs within his region. He directs all activities to identify and implement solutions to meet customer requirements for planned and emergent events. He’s also the ROG representative for FEMA activities within his region.

     

    Bryan began his public safety career as an emergency department coordinator in a community hospital and a ski patroller on Mount Hood. Before joining AT&T, he was a firefighter with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue in Oregon and the City of Newberg Fire Department. He’s held positions as firefighter, field training officer, lieutenant, public information officer, Wildland Engine Boss and advanced EMT.

     

    A Wilderness Medicine educator for the last decade, Bryan has participated in remote wilderness expeditions to the Artic Circle, the mountains of Nepal and caves of Vietnam. He thrives in austere environments and enjoys building teams on expeditions.

     

    He is a graduate of the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver, where he studied business administration and leadership.

FEMA Region 3 Section Chief

Robert Komoroski

  • Robert Komoroski, FEMA Region 3 Section Chief, is the tactical lead for all requests from public safety for FirstNet coverage needs within his regions. He directs all activities to identify and implement solutions to meet customer requirements for planned and emergent events. He’s also the ROG representative for FEMA activities within his region.

     

    Robert joined AT&T after a 29-year career with the New Jersey State Police. He graduated from the NJSP Academy in February 1988, as a general road duty trooper and served at various locations and positions within the Field Operations Section and the Emergency Management Section.  

     

    Responsibilities included supervising a staff to conduct pre-service training, recertifying over 300 public safety telecommunicators and enlisted supervisors in 9-1-1 emergency communications, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), emergency medical dispatch and CPR. He instituted a quality assurance program that identified topics for annual in-service training. 

     

    Robert was Region 3 Assistant Supervisor for the Emergency Management Section of the Communications Bureau when he retired in February 2017.

FEMA Region 1 and Boston Section Chief

Robert Picariello

  • Bob Picariello, a Section Chief for Boston, is the tactical lead for all requests from public safety for FirstNet coverage needs within his region. He directs all activities to identify and implement solutions to meet customer requirements for planned and emergent events. He’s also the ROG representative for FEMA activities within his region.

     

    Before joining AT&T, Chief Robert Picariello (Ret.) was in law enforcement in the Town of Marblehead, MA, for over 35 years, retiring in July 2021. He began his law enforcement career with the Marblehead Police Department in the early 1980’s, becoming a full-time patrol officer in 1987. He ascended through the ranks, holding the positions of sergeant and lieutenant before becoming Chief of Police in 2007.

     

    Chief Picariello is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, past President of the Essex County Chiefs of Police Association and the 2nd Vice President of the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, a regional partnership of more than 60 police departments in Essex and Middlesex counties.

Allen Webb

Allen Webb

Lead Market Development Manager, FirstNet Program at AT&T

Section Chief for FEMA Regions 6 and 7, Response Operations Group

Allen Webb, Section Chief for FEMA Regions 6 and 7, is responsible for identifying and supporting the communication needs of first responders and emergency personnel on the ground during disasters and major public safety events. He coordinates deployment of FirstNet assets during network outages.

Allen began his public service career in 1999 with the U.S. Marine Corps assigned to the 2nd  Battalion, 11th Marines Artillery Survey Section stationed in Camp Pendleton, CA. In 2006, he started his law enforcement career with the Dallas Police Department where he worked in patrol as a field training officer and as a detective in the Internal Affairs Division.

After 11 years in law enforcement, Allen joined the sales team with the FirstNet Program at AT&T, assigned to the Northeast Texas region. He later transitioned to the ROG team.

Allen holds an MBA and a Bachelor’s in Business Management from Dallas Baptist University. He has advanced SWAT and SWAT Sniper certifications from the Texas Tactical Police Officer Association and a Master Peace Officer certification from the State of Texas.

Kortney White

Kortney White

Market Development Manager, FirstNet Program at AT&T

Technical Specialist, Response Operations Group

Kortney White, Technical Specialist for the Response Operations Group, leading projects and bringing organization to her team, as well as helping the team make an impact on the public safety community.

Kortney began her career at AT&T in 2019 with the B2B Sales Development Program in Dallas, Texas. Upon her completion, she served as a business development representative in the Select/Mid-Market Organization, and later moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to become a sales executive for the newly configured Mid-Market Mobility Acquisition Team.

In 2022, she joined the Response Operations Group. Before joining AT&T, Kortney held numerous leadership positions while attending the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where she majored in political science. Kortney is currently pursuing post-graduate school.

FEMA Regions 6 and 7 Section Chief

Kelley Adley

  • Kelley Adley, FEMA Regions 6 and 7 Section Chief, is responsible for the tactical lead for all requests from public safety for FirstNet coverage needs within FEMA Regions 6 and 7. He directs all activities toward identifying and implementing the appropriate solution(s) to meet customer requirements for both planned and emergent events.

     

    Kelley maintains visibility and control of the deployed solution throughout the life-cycle of the event in order to ensure continuity and the ability to adjust to dynamic environments. He cultivates and maintains collaborative relationships with internal partners, guaranteeing a cohesive response. He supports a strong state engagement program within his region and works with respective states to draft and maintain individual state agreements which guide our response. He also represents ROG to FEMA activities within his region.

     

    As part of ROG, Kelley is a specialist in deployable LTE communications equipment and technology and is adept at responding with and employing a wide variety of solutions.

FEMA Region 5 Section Chief

James Fiduccia

  • James (Jim) Fiduccia, as a FEMA Region 5 Section Chief, is responsible as the tactical lead for all requests from public safety for FirstNet coverage needs within his area of responsibility. He directs all activities toward identifying and implementing the appropriate solution(s) to meet customer requirements for both planned and emergent events.

     

    James maintains visibility and control of the deployed solution throughout the life-cycle of the event in order to ensure continuity and the ability to adjust to dynamic environments. He cultivates and maintains collaborative relationships with internal and external partners, guaranteeing a cohesive response. He supports a strong state engagement program within his region and works with respective states to draft and maintain individual state agreements which guide our response. He also represents ROG to FEMA activities within his region.

     

    As part of ROG, James is a specialist in deployable LTE communications equipment and technology and is adept at responding with and employing a wide variety of solutions.

FEMA Region 8 Section Chief

Jeff Bassett

  • Jeff Bassett, FEMA Region 8 Section Chief is responsible for the tactical lead for all requests from public safety for FirstNet coverage needs within FEMA Region 8. He directs all activities toward identifying and implementing the appropriate solution(s) to meet customer requirements for both planned and emergent events. He also represents ROG to FEMA activities within his region. As part of ROG, Jeff is a specialist in deployable LTE communications equipment and technology and is adept at responding with and employing a wide variety of solutions.

     

    Chief Jeff Bassett has been in public safety for 34 years, his background includes law enforcement, emergency management and radio communications. Majority of his career was in the fire service, starting out as a firefighter and working his way through the ranks to Chief. He served as C.E.O./ Fire Chief for the South Davis Metro Fire Service Area (UT) and later as Fire Chief for Sandy City (UT).

     

    Chief Bassett is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO) at the National Fire Academy and has a bachelor’s degree in emergency management.