Borough President Vito Fossella announces new additions to his staff

Four new members join the Borough Hall team 

​Borough President Vito J. Fossella is pleased to announce the addition of four members to his staff. William Beale will serve as Director of Emergency Management, Public Safety & Veterans Affairs; Daniel Master will serve as Legal Counsel; Dr. Ram Raju will serve in a voluntary position as Senior Advisor of Intergovernmental Affairs and Health; Sia Sipp will serve as Special Assistant to the Borough President. 

“As a retired NYPD sergeant, William will be instrumental in responding to public safety issues, as well as act in support of our U.S. service men and women. Sia will bring a depth of knowledge on local issues, having worked with me in our Congressional office,” said Borough President Fossella. “Dan Master returns to Borough Hall and brings his vast experience both in legal matters and Staten Island affairs. For example, Dan was instrumental in the closing of the Fresh Kills Landfill. I’m also proud to bring on Dr. Ram Raju who will be helping to advise me on all healthcare issues and quality of life matters on Staten Island.”  

William Beale joined the New York City Police Department in 1991 and retired as Sergeant in 2011. As a retired police officer, his role within the Borough President’s office will allow him to address issues of public safety that come through the office, and serve as a liaison to the borough’s Veterans. Upon his retirement, he returned to school where he earned his certification from The Christ Hospital School of Radiography and is now certified in both X-Ray and Computerized Tomography. William, a Brooklyn native, lives in Great Kills with his wife Kera and three children.  

Daniel Master returns to the role of Legal Counsel to the Borough President, a position he held under former Borough Presidents Guy V. Molinari and James P. Molinaro. He has also served the Borough as Chief Assistant District Attorney and Acting District Attorney, Richmond County. Dan holds law degrees from Georgetown Law Center and Columbia Law School and a graduate degree in Criminology from the University of Cambridge. He was a litigation Associate at the law firm of Shea & Gould and has served on the full-time law faculties at NYU School of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law, and Boston College Law School. Dan and his wife Angie have two children, Emma and Trip, currently at Stanford University. 

“I enjoyed my time in local government working on projects such as closing the Fresh Kills Landfill and bringing minor league baseball to Staten Island. Improving the quality of life for all Staten Islanders is my lodestar,” said Master. “I was fortunate to have Borough Presidents Jim Molinaro and Guy Molinari as my mentors, and I’m thankful to Borough President Fossella for affording me this opportunity to reprise my role as Borough Hall Counsel.” 

Beginning his medical career at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, Dr. Ram Raju has a 40-year career as a healthcare provider, teacher, researcher and community organizer. He formerly held executive positions at Northwell Health, NYC Health and Hospitals, and the Cook County Health System in Chicago, and will now serve as Senior Advisor of Intergovernmental Affairs and Health to BP Fossella. Among his many accomplishments include improving population health at Northwell by finding ways to meet the needs of its most vulnerable communities through public/private partnerships, and turning the financial status of the Cook County healthcare system around that expanded healthcare coverage to thousands of its residents. He attended Madras Medical College for his medical diploma and Master of Surgery degree and underwent further training in England. Dr. Raju is also a physician executive, having obtained an MBA from the University of Tennessee and CPE from the American College of Physician Executives. He was also president-elect of Asian HealthCare Leaders Association (AHCLA), board trustee of the NYS Office of Professional Conduct, and serves as a member of Community Board 2 and the Iron Hills Civic Association.  Dr. Raju says he is excited to work with BP Fossella to improve the quality of life for all Staten Islanders.  

A graduate of Fordham University, Sia Sipp earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, and proceeded to work in advertising sales at Blair Television in Manhattan until she left in 1997 when BP Fossella was first elected to Congress. She was an Executive Assistant in his Congressional office throughout his entire term, working on the Readers Are Leaders Program, and working closely with the Congressman’s United States Service Academy Selection Committee. After leaving Fossella’s office, Sia stayed home and raised her three children. Sia will report directly to Borough President Fossella and provide guidance on administrative, staff and policy decisions, advise the borough president on government and community issues, and serve as confidential assistant and manager of the borough president’s daily schedule. She looks forward to working for him again as he continues to serve the people of Staten Island. She lives in Randall Manor with her husband Thomas Sipp and their three children.  

These staff changes are effective immediately. ​