Public Safety Expert Is Named Director of Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience at Rutgers

John "Jack" Donohue brings decades of leadership experience in policing, public safety, intelligence and organizational strategy

Administrators of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick have named John "Jack" Donohue director of the Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience. Donohue succeeds John J. Farmer Jr., the center's inaugural director. His appointment as director was effective in July 2026.

A former Miller Center fellow, Donohue brings decades of leadership experience in law enforcement, public safety, intelligence and organizational strategy. He spent much of his career with the New York City Police Department, where he concluded his service as chief of strategic initiatives. He also was the director of intelligence for the U.S. Capitol Police.

In executive leadership roles, Donohue led multidisciplinary teams focused on identifying challenges and developing solutions to improve effectiveness and efficiency across policing, prosecutions, courts, school safety and intelligence. He has also worked closely with government and industry partners to develop protective security technologies, advance information security and sharing policies and strengthen approaches to community engagement and public safety.

"Public safety is foundational to thriving communities, and law enforcement is a critical component of keeping them safe," Donohue said. "Police, working in partnership with community stakeholders, generate trust and credibility among the people they serve. That is what makes the work of the Miller Center so vitally important. I'm particularly energized by the opportunity to expand the work of the Center."

"Jack brings an exceptional combination of experience, strategic leadership and a deep understanding of the relationship between public safety institutions and the communities they serve," said Elizabeth C. Matto, director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics. "The Miller Center's work is rooted in strengthening trust, resilience and collaboration, particularly among communities facing heightened risk. I am confident that under Jack's leadership, the center will continue to build on this important work while identifying new opportunities to connect research, policy and practice in ways that strengthen communities and civic life."

Donohue holds a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University, a master of business administration degree from Manhattan College and a bachelor of arts degree from Pace University.

Members of the Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience aim to strengthen the safety, resilience and standing of vulnerable communities by improving trust-based relationships with law enforcement, government agencies and at-risk communities. Housed at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, the center was launched in 2017. In November 2022, senior university

officials announced a $2 million gift and the creation of an endowed fund from Rutgers alumnus Paul Miller and his family, allowing the Center on Policing to join the Miller Center on Community Protection and Resilience. The combined center allows for better coordination of research and practice to improve relations between police and communities and promote the well-being of vulnerable populations in New Jersey, throughout the United States and beyond.