Melissa R. Hyatt appointed vice president for security for Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine

Melissa R. Hyatt, recently named colonel of homeland security and training for the Baltimore Police Department after other significant command assignments in a career of more than 20 years, has been appointed vice president for security for Johns Hopkins.

Image caption: Melissa R. Hyatt

Image credit: Courtesy of Melissa Hyatt

Hyatt will oversee security operations for Johns Hopkins Medicine and Johns Hopkins University both domestically and around the globe (except at the Applied Physics Laboratory). She will join Johns Hopkins on April 9.

"Melissa is an accomplished, mission-driven professional who exudes passion for her work and a love for Baltimore city," said Daniel G. Ennis, the university's senior vice president for finance and administration. "She is well-respected by colleagues both within and outside the Baltimore Police Department. Her skill at bringing teams together will help us to strengthen our already close working relationship with Baltimore police and other agencies."

Hyatt emerged from a national search to succeed Keith Hill, who retired in January after serving since 2013 as the first vice president to oversee security for both the university and Hopkins Medicine.

Hill and his campus-based commanders have worked to reinforce relationships with Baltimore police, sharing information, establishing direct communications links, and conducting joint exercises, among other initiatives. Hyatt said she would continue to build closer ties between Johns Hopkins security and local police.

"I am eager to embrace this opportunity to advance the multitiered missions of Johns Hopkins in medicine, health care, and education," Hyatt said. "While our challenges in Baltimore, across the nation, and worldwide are significant, the opportunities to grow and improve are extensive. I look forward to working with the team at Johns Hopkins, along with all of our local, state, and federal law enforcement and government partners, to enhance and maintain a safe, secure environment for students, faculty, clinicians, employees, patients, and visitors."

As chief of the department's Special Operations Division for several years, Hyatt oversaw special events; the special weapons and tactics, aviation, marine, mounted, and K9 units; the Communications Section; and Headquarters/City Hall Security. She served as incident commander for Baltimore City's Violence Reduction Initiative from its inception. Following a recent departmental reorganization, Hyatt took command of the agency's Homeland Security and Training Division, which includes the Education and Training Academy, recruitment, information technology, CitiWatch, Headquarters/City Hall Security, and the Communications Section.

She has served as incident commander for many large public events that have brought scores of thousands of people to Baltimore, including the Star-Spangled Spectacular, Army-Navy games, Light City, Baltimore Marathons, and the Grand Prix. She was the law enforcement lead for the planning and opening of the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore.

Hyatt has served as chief of staff to the police commissioner, chief of patrol, area commander, and commander of the Central District. Earlier in her career, she served in SWAT; citywide operations; and patrol in the Northwestern, Southwestern, and Northeastern districts. She was executive officer in the Southeastern District and commanded the Tri-District Initiative. She joined the Baltimore Police Department in 1997 and has won numerous departmental citations and commendations.

"Melissa has a strong leadership record and has demonstrated a high degree of commitment to improving police operations and relationships," said Robert Kasdin, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine. "Her extensive law enforcement leadership experience gives her a well-developed understanding of and ability to address the security challenges that impact our Johns Hopkins communities."

Hyatt earned a Master of Science in Management from Johns Hopkins in 2009 and last year received the university's Woodrow Wilson Award for Distinguished Government Service. She is a 1997 graduate of the University of Delaware and attended the FBI National Academy in 2012.