JHM's vice president of security, Harry Koffenberger, to retire; successor announced

Dear Colleagues,

Harry Koffenberger, a three-decade veteran of law enforcement who has spent 17 years as a keystone of the nationally praised Johns Hopkins Medicine security system, has decided to retire after five impressive years as vice president of security.

Harry, a 24-year veteran of the Baltimore City Police Department, joined Hopkins in 1994 as director of external security for Hopkins' East Baltimore campus. He became senior director of corporate security in 2002, competently overseeing parking, transportation and security not just at Hopkins Hospital but at Hopkins Bayview and Howard County General Hospital.

As vice president of security for Johns Hopkins Medicine, Harry maintained close relationships with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. His work with the Baltimore city police department resulted in the January 2010 strategic agreement to exchange information from their respective video surveillance systems. Under Harry's watchful eye, efforts have included not only close collaboration with city police but with neighborhood groups, reflecting a commitment to community involvement that has been a hallmark of his entire law enforcement career.

With Harry's leadership, a sophisticated communications program was put in place, including development and implementation of the emergency text-message system, building of a robust security intranet site, and emailing security notices to relay safety tips and quickly gather information about high-profile cases. His insight led to detailed "worst case scenario" planning, policy development and training that was instrumental in the swift, coordinated and effective response to a Sept. 16, 2010, shooting incident at Hopkins Hospital.

It has been our personal pleasure to work directly with Harry over these past years. We have been extremely well served by his professional approach to the oversight of our growing corporate security enterprise, which has become a model to emulate.

We are pleased to announce that Harry's successor will be John Bergbower, a 27-year veteran of the Baltimore City Police Department who has been a central figure in Hopkins' security system since 2003. Well prepared for this position, John has served as senior director of corporate security, parking and transportation, as well as internal director of security for the schools of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, and as director of investigations. A member of the city police force who began as a patrolman on the beat in 1974, John rose to the position of detective major, commanding the special investigations section of the Criminal Investigations Division. After leaving the police department, he served as the director of enforcement for the Commissioner of Financial Regulation in the Maryland State Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

John is a 1987 honors graduate of Marywood University in Scranton, Pa., and earned a master's degree in management from The Johns Hopkins University in 1998. He also has graduated from Hopkins' Police Executive Leadership Program. In addition, John teaches an undergraduate course in economics and a graduate course in human resource management for the division of public safety leadership in the Johns Hopkins School of Education.

Join us as we both thank Harry for his commitment to the safety of Hopkins, our people and property, and as we welcome John into this new role.

Sincerely,

Edward D. Miller, M.D.
Dean of the Medical Faculty
CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Ronald R. Peterson
President
The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System
EVP, Johns Hopkins Medicine