Natasha R. Nau

Natasha R. Nau

Degree: 2012, MPA

Job Title: Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Management, Philadelphia Fire Department

Natasha R. Nau (MPA '12) is currently the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Management at the Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD), which is one of the busiest departments in the country with about 275,000 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) runs and 45,000 fire suppression runs per year. She is a part of the Executive Team, where she is assisting the Fire Commissioner during his complete realignment of the Department. Natasha is responsible for forecasting, planning, analyzing and evaluating the PFD's finance, procurement, human resources and administrative services to improve operations and streamline delivery.

 
Prior to joining the PFD, Natasha was the Town Administrator for Columbia, Connecticut from 2015 to 2016 managing a workforce of approximately 60 employees. From 2013 to 2015, Natasha was the Finance/HR Director for London Grove Township in Pennsylvania and accounted for a $3.5M budget and administered employee benefits. She got her start through five internships with various local governments and a law firm between 2008-2012 in Connecticut, Virginia, Arizona and Pennsylvania. Natasha has also been a life-long volunteer firefighter at Long Ridge Fire Company in Connecticut.
 
Both Natasha's MPA and her Institute for Public Administration (IPA) research assistantship, which explored the concept of Planning for Complete Communities in Delaware, helped her prepare for full-time work in local government. She gained an understanding of projects that leaders manage and the dynamic issues they must mitigate to develop a vibrant community and organization. During her tenure at SPPA, Natasha was also a member of Student Association of Policy and Administration, published a policy brief in New Visions for Public Affairs and received the SPPA Henry R. Folsom Award as well as the DAPA Outstanding Student Public Service Award.
 
Born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut, Natasha now resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she is grateful on a daily basis for the fantastic education and experience she received at SPPA. She is considering attaining her CPA and is pursuing an accounting certification.