Rose Brucia Taps Jeff DeRosa as Executive Director

The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation recently named Jeff DeRosa as its new Executive Director.

DeRosa, who recently retired from a 20-year career in the United States Army, will coordinate all efforts of the foundation and help chairman and founder Matthew J. Barbis continue with their mission of stranger safety awareness.

“It’s my distinct pleasure to have Jeff DeRosa as the executive director of The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation,” Barbis said. “Jeff’s had a very successful career in the United States Army, retiring at the rank of Master Sergeant, and has graciously accepted the position. I know that the foundation’s important mission and my grandmother’s name [Rose Brucia] will continue to be honored with Jeff as its leader.”

DeRosa has been involved with the foundation for a couple of years and has been lifelong friends with Barbis. They graduated from Sachem High School together in 1989.

During his military career he was stationed at various locations, including California, Texas, Germany, Missouri and Korea and saw time in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia. DeRosa has served as a drill sergeant and was a professor of military science at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.

“Knowing how important the foundation is to Mathew, I was honored when he approached me,” DeRosa said. “He pitched it to me and it meant a lot, especially leaving a career that meant so much to me. This is also a value based organization, so to move to something just as important, it was a good transition.”