New head of security is former NYPD inspector

by TALLEY HENNING BROWN

James Rogers has been on the payroll for almost a month, but he’s had an eye on the safety of Rockefeller University for years. A 22-year veteran of the New York Police Department, Mr. Rogers became Rockefeller’s new director of security on January 2, filling the position left open by the retirement of Joseph Nekola, who led the Office of Security for 18 years (see “Joe Nekola sets sail,” below).

Mr. Rogers joined the police force in 1986. During his first years in uniform, he earned a bachelor of science degree from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and in 2001 he completed a master’s degree in public administration from Marist College. Mr. Rogers rose steadily through the ranks of the police department, to sergeant in 1991, lieutenant in 1995, captain in 1997, deputy inspector in 2001 and inspector in 2003. He served as commanding officer in various units, including, from 2002 to 2006, Manhattan’s 19th Precinct, which serves much of the Upper East Side including Rockefeller’s campus. “This precinct is one of the safest, and at the same time one of the busiest precincts in New York City,” Mr. Rogers says. “Rockefeller was part of my responsibility during those years, and every time I had occasion to be on campus, the security guards and everyone else here were always extremely professional. I was very impressed and I guess you could say that, unbeknownst to me, I was already laying the seeds of my future career here.”

Mr. Rogers’s final position with the NYPD, as commanding officer for the deputy commissioner of operations, honed analytical skills that he intends to bring to Rockefeller. The “CompStat” process innovated by this unit — basically an organizational management tool involving intense statistical analysis — is renowned among law enforcement agencies for its effectiveness in improving operations and reducing crime.

His move to private-sector security was a decision made in part for family reasons. “I have three small children at home, and I loved working for the NYPD, but it’s an unusually demanding job. I’m really looking forward to spending more time with my family and weighting the balance between work and life a little more in my favor, but I feel the same passion here at this remarkable institution that I had with the Police Department,” Mr. Rogers says.

“After Ginny Huffman and I had interviewed a dozen serving and retired NYPD captains, deputy inspectors and inspectors, we both reached the conclusion that Jimmy Rogers was the man for Rockefeller,” says Vice President for Scientific and Facility Operations John Tooze. “His wide experience, including having served as commanding officer of our precinct, his intelligence and responsiveness were compelling.”

Among Mr. Rogers’s highest priorities as director of Rockefeller security is to instill safety awareness in all staff and students. “This community is a beautiful place, but we come and go from this community, and if I can keep everyone who comes here safer, whether they’re on campus or off, then I’ve done my job,” he says. Additionally, he will follow up on a request among his staff for additional training, and create a plan to keep security personnel abreast of best practices established in the law enforcement community, amended to fit the university’s needs. To that end, he maintains memberships in organizations that liaise with local, state and federal government and law enforcement executives. “My motto here is ‘think globally, act locally,’” he says. “It is imperative that I stay informed about events happening elsewhere in the world — like the spate of terrorist activities in Asia and the Middle East the last few years — because those events have much to teach us as far as how the authorities react to them.

“What is most important to me, though, is making sure I don’t forget that the organization is run by people — that those people are the most important entity in the organization,” Mr. Rogers says. “One thing I think I do well is make sure my people are aware of their importance to me and the importance of their role in the operation. That’s something I want to bring to this place as well.”

Joe Nekola sets sail Former director of security retires to a life on the high seas At the hour of five, most university offices close up shop for the night. Security, however, is a 24/7 business, and for the last 18 years, Joseph Nekola kept operations running smoothly. Mr. Nekola, who left Rockefeller University at the end of January for semiretirement, will soon be running operations of a different sort — as captain and crew of his trawler motor yacht, exploring the Atlantic Sea Board. Mr. Nekola has worked in security — public and private — for more than four decades. Born and raised in the Bronx, he attended American River College in Sacramento, California, before returning to the East Coast and entering the Police Academy in 1965. His talents were quickly recognized and he received the Bloomingdale Trophy — an engraved .38-caliber pistol — for attaining the highest overall average of academics, physical training and marksmanship. While working in the New York Police Department, he furthered his education at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Iona College. During his 25 years as one of New York’s finest, he was assigned to the Tactical Patrol Force (the precursor to the SWAT unit), was promoted to sergeant, lieutenant and captain and served with various patrol and investigative units, including the Major Case Squad and the Bronx District Attorney’s Detective Squad, for both of which he was commanding officer. In 1989, Mr. Nekola was hired as director of Rockefeller University security by President Joshua Lederberg, and he has served in that capacity through the administrations of six Rockefeller presidents. “I will miss everything about Rockefeller. The people who work here — academics and staff — who are so impressive in their dedication to the university and their work. Of course I will miss my numerous friends here, but thankfully I will be able to continue these friendships,” Mr. Nekola says. “I will also miss being here to witness and enjoy our beautiful campus as it adjusts to the changes in the seasons each year.” Mr. Nekola is leaving an impressive mark on the campus himself, however. Among his proudest accomplishments of his years at Rockefeller, Mr. Nekola spearheaded Rockefeller’s successful application in 2006 for a grant from the New York State Department of Homeland Security to upgrade and improve the university’s perimeter closed circuit television system. At $75,000, it was the highest amount given to any institution in the state. Work on the new system was completed in December. Mr. Nekola will continue part-time in the security field and risk assessment consulting, but he’ll spend the majority of his time on the Sea Pearl, his yacht and home. He plans to complete the requirements for the United States Coast Guard master 100-ton license next month, and then he’ll begin a three-year cruise from the Florida Keys and the Bahamas to Nova Scotia. “Then I’ll decide whether to move on to the Caribbean and South America. But during these adventures there will be numerous trips back here to see friends,” he says. “He will be greatly missed,” says Assistant Director of Security Michael John, who has worked with Mr. Nekola for 18 years. “He is a great leader. He was on top of everything going on at the university, but he took the time to be genuinely involved with his staff. He was concerned about us personally and professionally, and was eager to help with any kind of problem. I know I am not alone in these thoughts.”