Monticello, NY – Sullivan County Manager Joshua A. Potosek is pleased to welcome Scott F. Schulte as the new Commissioner of Public Safety.
“Scott has extensive education and experience in emergency management and fire investigation,” Potosek states. “I welcome him to the team and look forward to working closely with him to protect and enhance the safety and security of the people of Sullivan County.”
Schulte served as the Director of the Office of Emergency Management at SUNY New Paltz from 2007 to this past May, when he began his role with Sullivan County. He possesses a bachelor’s in Emergency Management from Empire State College and a master’s in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University, and he graduated from both the National Emergency Management Basic and Advanced Academy, each a rigorous curriculum developed and offered by FEMA.
Schulte is a certified emergency manager, enterprise risk management professional, firefighter, fire investigator and code enforcement official. He has been the chief court officer for the Town of New Paltz Court for 22 years, an investigator with the Ulster County Fire Investigation Unit for 11 years and formerly a police officer at SUNY New Paltz.
“I’ve spent most of my career in New Paltz, where I grew up,” Schulte affirmed. “The university is an ever-changing population and a mix of many different cultures, but it has also always been a very tight-knit community.”
Indeed, creating cohesion amongst disparate groups remains a key interest.
“My goal is to bring a whole-of-community approach to emergency management, to create an inclusive, welcoming environment that fosters collaboration with people of varied backgrounds and interests – particularly marginalized and ‘overlooked’ populations,” he explained. “I don’t want anyone to feel like they’re not included.”
Schulte is Chief of East Coast Firefighting Operations for the nonprofit Emergency Volunteer Project, through which he’s repeatedly travelled to Israel during that nation’s natural disasters and conflicts.
“I’ve deployed to Israel during times of conflict and nearly a dozen times to train first-response personnel,” he said.
He’s eager to bring that desire to serve and depth of knowledge to Sullivan County, where his father Fred long worked as Chief Operating Officer of CVI in Ferndale.
“What intrigued me about this position is the potential to have a positive impact on a broader community,” Schulte explained.
As Commissioner of Public Safety, Schulte will oversee the County’s Division of Public Safety, which includes the Office of Emergency Management/Homeland Security, the Bureau of Fire, the Bureau of EMS, the Probation Department, and the 911 Center. He’ll also be responsible for the County’s Emergency Operations Center when activated (as it has been for pandemic and storm events).
“I’m grateful for the support of the County Manager, Assistant County Manager and Legislature, and I am very excited to serve Sullivan County,” said Schulte. “I’ve already been warmly welcomed by the Sheriff and Undersheriff, and our Fire Coordinator, EMS/911 Coordinator and Probation Director are definitely rock stars in the community!”
“Scott has been one of Ulster County’s ‘rock stars,’ and I welcome him to Sullivan County,” remarked District 4 Legislator Nicholas Salomone, chair of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee. “I look forward to working closely with him on behalf of the public.”
Schulte resides in Wallkill with his wife Jessica (a high school teacher in Kingston) and dog Max. He remains an active member of the Shawangunk Valley Volunteer Fire Department and a life member of the New Paltz Fire Department.
“His resume, enthusiasm and experience speak to his capabilities,” observed Legislature Chairman Robert A. Doherty. “I am very pleased he’s chosen to bring all of that energy and training to Sullivan County.”