
Law enforcement veteran Andrew Hoffman joins Federation as the SCN’s Deputy Regional Security Advisor
The Secure Community Network (SCN) and Jewish Federation of the Berkshires are pleased to announce the launch of a new community security program led by Deputy Regional Security Advisor Andrew Hoffman. The program is designed to significantly increase safety and security for all who participate in Jewish life in the Berkshires. SCN is the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America.
In his new role, Hoffman will serve as Deputy Regional Security Advisor for both Jewish Federation of the Berkshires and the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts. His duties include administering both Federations’ community security programs, conducting consultations, performing building and organizational assessments, leading training and drills, mitigating threats, and coordinating responses to critical incidents. Hoffman joined SCN in October 2024, bringing over 26 years of law enforcement experience to his role.
“Andrew is an invaluable addition to SCN’s expanding security shield across New England,” said Michael Masters, National Director and CEO of the Secure Community Network. “He has helped bridge the expertise and capabilities of SCN with the unique needs of Jewish communities in the Berkshires and Western Massachusetts. Andrew’s leadership in this role is already reinforcing a strong culture of safety and resilience, ensuring that communities are not just prepared for potential threats but are equipped with the tools and confidence to face them.”
On Monday, February 10 at 7 p.m., the Berkshire Jewish community will be able to meet Andrew Hoffman at Federation’s Community Security Town Hall. He will be joined by his colleagues Mike Butsch (SCN Regional Director Northeastand formerly Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI New Haven Division Office) and Grant Mendenhall (SCN Deputy Director of Operations and formerly an infantry officer in the United States
Marine Corps and the Assistant Director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, with responsibility for the FBI’s global Counterterrorism Program and global Counterterrorism workforce). Learn about the Jewish Berkshires LiveSecure initiative, ask questions, share your concerns, and help shape a safer and stronger community. This event will be held at Knesset Israel, 16 Colt Road in Pittsfield. Please register on our website, jewishberkshires.org.
“We are excited to partner with SCN and welcome Andrew to the Berkshires,” said Federation Executive Director Dara Kaufman. “As our community and country face significant increases in antisemitic threats and incidents, Jewish communal security has never been more important. We are committed to supporting the security of our congregations and Jewish organizations. Andrew’s extensive experience makes him an enormous asset for our community.”
“It is an honor to serve the communities of the Berkshires and Western Massachusetts, who have long demonstrated a deep commitment to Jewish life,” said Hoffman about his new role. “I look forward to continuing to work year-round with residents, local leaders, and law enforcement to strengthen the preparedness and response capabilities of the Jewish community. My goal is to ensure that everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered.”
Before joining SCN, Hoffman served as a special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), where he led complex investigations targeting international drug trafficking organizations. His distinguished career included assignments with the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, the DEA Caribbean Division on the island of Curaçao, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force in Bridgeport, CT. Hoffman holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of South Florida.
Jewish Federation of the Berkshires and the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts join the growing network of Jewish Federations and communities that have partnered with SCN to launch or build upon existing community-wide security programs designed around an “all threats, all hazards” approach to preparedness, safety, security, and resiliency. Each program is connected to SCN’s national operations, providing direct access to SCN’s National Jewish Security Operations Command Center and Duty Desk, as well as best practice security resources and support related to policies, procedures, physical security, facility assessments, training, and incident response.
About Secure Community Network
The Secure Community Network (SCN), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America. Founded in 2004 under the auspices of The Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, SCN serves as the central organization dedicated exclusively to the safety and security of the American Jewish community, working across 146 federations, 50 partner organizations, over 300 independent communities, and other partners in the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. SCN is dedicated to ensuring that Jewish organizations, communities, life, and culture can not only exist safely and securely, but flourish. Learn more at securecommunitynetwork.org.