Press Release  The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Announces Leadership Transition

Boston — Today, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) Secretary Terrence M. Reidy announced the departure of Jeanne Benincasa Thorpe, Undersecretary of Homeland Security and Homeland Security Advisor (HSA) to the Governor. Benincasa Thorpe's duties will transition to Deputy Secretary Susan Terrey, who will expand her current role to include Homeland Security Undersecretary and HSA, effective June 16, 2023.

Appointed as Homeland Undersecretary and HSA in 2019 and re-appointed in January 2023, Benincasa Thorpe has led the Commonwealth's primary emergency preparedness and response organizations, advised on key policy issues, and cultivated private-public partnerships across every level of government. Her expertise in emergency management, homeland security, and disaster response and recovery has enhanced the Commonwealth's preparedness and emergency response capabilities.

Undersecretary Benincasa Thorpe demonstrated steady leadership throughout the pandemic, leading non-medical PPE distribution and establishing testing programs for first responders and essential workers. She has been instrumental in strengthening the Commonwealth's preparedness by guiding key initiatives such as the Port Security Enhancements, the Large Venue Task Force, the Non-Profit Security Grant Program, and the statewide standard for Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response. In addition, she is credited with the successful oversight of five Boston Marathons and four July 4th celebrations.

“Through Jeanne's extraordinary leadership, our Commonwealth is better prepared, and our communities are more resilient than we were five years ago,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Reidy. “Her remarkable contributions and strong stakeholder relationships have significantly enhanced statewide readiness and will provide a solid foundation for a seamless transition. As her colleague and friend, I extend my most heartfelt gratitude to Jeanne and her family for her devotion to service, public safety impact, and the extraordinary sacrifices this demanding role requires.”

“With profound gratitude and deep admiration for my fellow public servants, I made the difficult decision to conclude my public service and begin my next chapter in the private sector,” said outgoing Undersecretary Benincasa Thorpe. “It has been my honor to serve the Commonwealth and work alongside an exceptional team of public safety professionals and emergency management experts. I'd also like to thank Governor Healey, Lt. Governor Driscoll, Secretary Reidy, and the Baker-Polito Administration for their leadership and support.”

Deputy Secretary Susan Terrey's expanded role will now include providing strategic leadership on policies, programs, and budgetary matters related to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Fire Services, the Commonwealth Fusion Center, the Massachusetts National Guard, and the Homeland Division of the Office of Grants and Research. She will ensure agency priorities align with the Commonwealth's overarching homeland security strategy and advance the Healey-Driscoll administration's vision for Massachusetts.

“Susan is a highly skilled, seasoned, and proven leader, who has devoted her career to keeping communities safe and fostering strong collaboration with local, state, and federal counterparts," added Secretary Reidy. “The Commonwealth will be well served by her ability to convene stakeholders and extensive experience leading public safety missions, including pandemic-era National Guard activations.”

“I am grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Secretary Reidy for their confidence in me and honored to serve Massachusetts in my expanded role,” said Deputy Secretary Terrey. “I look forward to collaborating closely with our agencies and many stakeholders to advance policies that strengthen public safety and homeland security, enhance outcomes and achieve demonstrable progress across Massachusetts.”

About Susan Terrey:

Susan Terrey has had a distinguished career in public safety with nearly 30 years of government and prosecutorial experience. Terrey was promoted to her current role as EOPSS Deputy Secretary in August 2022 after serving as the secretariat's General Counsel since March 2019.

Before joining EOPSS, she was Assistant Undersecretary at the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, guiding state and federal rental subsidy programs.

Terrey is a veteran prosecutor with over two decades of experience leading major investigations and prosecutions. She began her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan and returned to Massachusetts to serve as an ADA in the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, where she prosecuted gun, gang, and narcotics cases, and supervised operations in one of the region's busiest courts. While at Suffolk County, Terrey was instrumental in launching the Boston Veterans Treatment Court and received the Paul J. McLaughlin Award for "a career marked by courage in the pursuit of justice." She earned her bachelor's degree from Boston College before receiving her law degree from Boston University School of Law.

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