Editor’s note: This article is the first in a series that explores how the New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center laid the groundwork for agile responses to emerging threats and challenges — a blueprint that continues to influence effective crisis and threat management today. Future installments will delve deeper into the strategies, challenges and successes that have shaped its enduring legacy.
By Ray Guidetti, Joe Brennan and Jim Sheehan
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020 and physical collaboration came to a halt, one state fusion center faced a critical question: How do you build a real-time, statewide common operating picture without ever being in the same room?
The answer? A combination of innovation, urgency and a problem-solving mindset that turns challenges into opportunities.
Embracing its already established “build-the-plane-as-you-fly-it” approach, the New Jersey Regional Operations & Intelligence Center (NJ ROIC, pronounced ROCK!) launched a 24/7 intelligence-sharing platform in response to the COVID crisis, seamlessly connecting hundreds of police executives and enabling unprecedented real-time coordination across law enforcement agencies and state partners. What began as an urgent necessity quickly evolved into a game-changing model for public safety — one that continues to drive results far beyond the crisis that inspired it.
The power of a metaphor to drive change
In the early days of the NJ ROIC, one phrase echoed through the halls: “Hold on, we’re building the plane as we fly it.” It was the late 2000s, and the nation was still adjusting to our post-9/11 reality, as homeland security policing took shape and fusion centers emerged as a novel concept. Within the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), the home agency for the state’s fusion center, there was a strong push for intelligence-led policing — a policing management strategy borrowed from the United Kingdom that advocated using analysis to identify problems and repeat offenders responsible for crime in a particular jurisdiction and then fix such problems and target such offenders.
Amid this shift, the Northern New Jersey/Jersey City - Newark Urban Security Area Initiative (NNJ UASI) partnered with the NJ ROIC to drive initiatives related to information-sharing, technology and training. The convergence of new ideas, evolving missions and nonstop taskings coming from multiple directions created a fast-moving, frenetic and high-stakes environment that demanded agility, innovation and a willingness to continually adapt on the fly.
In hindsight, the “building the plane as we fly it” mindset — while certainly a powerful metaphor for innovation and change management — may have also instilled a deep-seated adaptability at the NJ ROIC. Without realizing it at the time, this approach over the years prepared its leaders to thrive amid shifting priorities, especially those driven by national crises. Rather than resisting chaos, they learned to embrace it if not harness it — turning uncertainty into opportunity and disruption into decisive action.
Impact on innovation
Innovation thrives in environments that demand adaptability. The ability to make real-time adjustments while staying in motion pushes organizations to adopt agile strategies, experiment with new ideas and embrace a fail-fast mindset. Many companies have faced moments of intense pressure, where the need for immediate innovation led to breakthrough solutions - ones unlikely to emerge in a traditional, step-by-step development process.
A prime example of this was Ford Motor Company’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company rapidly repurposed its auto assembly lines — designed for vehicle production — to manufacture ventilators, face shields and PPE. Likewise, GE and 3M partnered with Ford to quickly design and mass-produce ventilators and air-purifying respirators. These efforts embodied the “building the plane while flying it” approach, requiring bold decision-making, cross-functional teamwork and a readiness to navigate uncertainty.
In times of crisis, support must be solid as a rock
In the years leading up to 2020, the NJ ROIC identified itself as an “all crimes, all threats, all hazards” fusion center. Building on that foundation, the center broadened its role beyond traditional counterterrorism, pioneering innovative intelligence-sharing to inform rapid-response strategies that transformed public safety across the state.
Established in the wake of September 11, its analytical foundation was deeply rooted in counterterrorism. However, it wasn’t long before those same capabilities were directed at violent crime in the state, launching Project Watchtower, a groundbreaking initiative that would evolve into a nationally recognized model for crime gun intelligence.
When Hurricane Sandy struck New Jersey, causing widespread devastation, the NJ ROIC’s watch operations and analytical teams, in partnership with the UASI, quickly mobilized. Their efforts supported the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and FEMA, providing critical situational awareness to help manage the disaster, which included specific locations in the state that were open to provide medications and other health care services.
In 2014, when Super Bowl XLVIII was held in the Meadowlands, the NJ ROIC collaborated with the FBI, DHS, NYPD, and multiple state and local agencies to establish a specialized fusion cell near the stadium. This operation played a key role in assessing threats and delivering real-time intelligence to operational commanders.
Just two years later, in 2016, the NJ ROIC was called into action again when an explosive device detonated along the Seaside Semper Five 5K charity course benefiting U.S. Marines and sailors. As the investigation unfolded, the NJ ROIC shifted focus to support law enforcement efforts. The attack was linked to Ahmed Khan Rahami, the so-called Chelsea Bomber, who was later sentenced to life in prison for carrying out multiple bombings in New Jersey and New York, inspired by ISIS and al-Qaeda.
Each of these high-profile incidents underscored a critical truth — information, analysis and intelligence are essential during a crisis. NJ ROIC consistently filled that need, adapting to each situation to ensure public safety. The key takeaway? In times of crisis, information is the currency that drives effective response and investigations, and how it is gathered, analyzed and shared must be tailored to the specific threat, incident, or circumstance.
So, in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, the NJ ROIC once again adapted in real-time, providing law enforcement with the intelligence they needed to respond effectively. As they had done before, they had to figure out how to build the plane while flying it — fast, efficiently and with impact.
Creating processes in uncertain times to build trust
Looking back at the COVID-19 pandemic through a public safety lens, a few key challenges stand out.
First, there was the sheer uncertainty of the situation — not just the unknown, but the fear that came with it. Second, the pandemic forced agencies to navigate communication and collaboration in a world of physical separation, making coordination more difficult than ever. And finally, there was an urgent demand for reliable information and critical resources to drive informed decision-making and effective response efforts.
At the heart of it all was trust or, in many cases, the lack of it. With the nation deeply divided over the severity of the crisis and the measures taken to address it, public safety agencies had to operate in an environment where credibility, transparency and adaptability were more crucial than ever.
The NJ ROIC quickly rose to the challenge, implementing a 24/7 situational awareness operation that not only addressed critical issues but also built trust among law enforcement stakeholders. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that it was accomplished by leveraging existing information-sharing platforms, such as the Homeland Security Information Network’s Connect platform, hosted by the Department of Homeland Security. In essence, the NJ ROIC embodied the approach championed by Kshmendra Paul, former Project Manager of the Information Sharing Environment: “Discover what you have and leverage it!”
Colonel Callahan and Acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck address the New Jersey law enforcement community from the NJ ROIC via the HSIN Adobe Connect StateStat virtual command post. Captured in the Analysis Area, this moment highlights how effective operations can be conducted from a simple laptop setup, proving that impactful communication doesn’t always require a large or costly space.
By providing real-time intelligence, clear communication and reliable insights, the NJ ROIC became a vital resource in navigating the crisis through these key initiatives:
- 24/7 statewide situational awareness: Established a real-time information-sharing platform to keep law enforcement agencies connected.
- Daily intelligence briefings: Hosted daily briefings with 800–900 police executives, ensuring informed, data-driven decision-making.
- Executive collaboration platform: Created a space for police chiefs to share questions, solutions and best practices on policy, personnel and public safety challenges.
- Rapid support mechanism: Enabled law enforcement leaders to quickly request and receive guidance and resources from the Office of Attorney General, Department of Health and the NJSP.
- Direct communication with state and federal officials: Developed a first-of-its-kind platform for real-time communication between executive-level law enforcement and government leaders, creating a statewide common operating picture.
- Beyond COVID: Addressed emerging threats by expanding the platform to tackle broader public safety issues, such as quickly identifying and mitigating the statewide “Bail Scam” pattern.
- Enhanced intelligence production: Built a structured intelligence process from the ground up, producing eight daily reports, including the Daily Statewide Law Enforcement Readiness Report, which provided a 24-hour snapshot of officer readiness across 566 departments and 38,000 officers. This required extensive daily coordination to track COVID-positive cases, quarantines and officer returns to duty.
Leading through crisis: A blueprint for change management
The NJ ROIC’s response to the COVID-19 crisis was more than just a rapid adjustment — it was a masterclass in change management under pressure. Faced with unprecedented uncertainty, physical separation and an urgent need for real-time intelligence, they didn’t hesitate. They innovated.
By adopting an agile mindset and leveraging technology, collaboration and clear communication, The NJ ROIC not only maintained operational continuity but transformed crisis response into a model for the future.
What began as a necessity-driven adaptation in New Jersey to address the undulations of threat has now become a sustainable, scalable approach to public safety — one that continues to shape how intelligence is shared, decisions are made, and trust is built in high-stakes environments.
The lesson we can all derive is that crisis accelerates innovation — but only for those willing to embrace uncertainty, adapt quickly and turn disruption into decisive action.
About the authors
Ray Guidetti is a seasoned law enforcement professional and criminal intelligence expert dedicated to enhancing public safety through innovation and strategic leadership. With decades of experience in policing, intelligence and crime analysis, he has played a pivotal role in advancing crime gun intelligence, investigative strategies and interagency collaboration. As a trusted advisor, speaker and consultant, Ray is committed to equipping law enforcement agencies with the tools and knowledge needed to combat violent crime effectively. His relentless pursuit of justice, passion for mentorship and expertise in emerging technologies make him a respected leader in the field of public safety.
Joe Brennan retired in 2024 as LT Colonel commanding the New Jersey State Police Investigations Branch and is now Director of Crime Control and Counterterrorism Strategy, with over 20 years of experience leading intelligence-driven law enforcement initiatives. A recognized public safety technology integration expert, having developed and implemented numerous programs at the NJ ROIC, including StateSTAT, which expanded real-time intelligence sharing statewide during the pandemic. His leadership in data analytics, crime reduction strategies, and counterterrorism has shaped best practices nationwide. He has built trusted partnerships across law enforcement, leveraging innovation to enhance operational effectiveness and achieve measurable public safety outcomes.
Jim Sheehan has a BS in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University, an M.A. in Educational Supervision and an Ed.S in Higher Ed Administration from Seton Hall University. A member of the New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center Governance Board from the ROIC’s inception and continues to support the NJ Fusion Center and National Fusion Center Association in all of his subsequent positions. From 2011 through 2018, he served as an Executive Support Specialist for the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative (NSI) Program Management Office. He holds the position of program manager for the Newark/Jersey City Urban Area Security Initiative since 2013.