Terry O’Leary has been nominated to serve as Acting Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) by Governor Kathy Hochul. Mr. O’Leary will serve in the acting role until confirmed by the State Senate.
Prior to being nominated as Commissioner, Mr. O’Leary has served as Executive Deputy Commissioner of DHSES for a decade. In addition to overseeing the Division’s day-to-day operations, he has helped lead New York’s response to natural disasters, including Tropical Storms Isaias, Ida, Fred and Debby, flooding on Lake Ontario and the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. O’Leary also oversaw the launch of new programs such as the Division’s Cyber Incident Response Team, the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Unit, the Division’s UAS Program, the Transportation Security and Emergency Preparedness program and the New York’s Volunteer Firefighter Training Stipend. Additionally, Mr. O’Leary helped establish new grant programs, including the Volunteer Fire Infrastructure and Response Equipment Grant, Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Grant, the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Grant and over $100 million in new capital grants dedicated to improving counties NG911 readiness. Finally, he oversaw the Division’s new capital projects, including the construction of DHSES’ Swift Water Training Facility and the State Fire Academy’s Field Operations Building.
Previously, he served as the Deputy Secretary for Public Safety for the New York State Executive Chamber where he was responsible for overseeing the policy and operations of the State’s public safety agencies, including DHSES, the New York State Police, the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and the Division of Criminal Justice Services.
Mr. O’Leary began his career with New York State as the Director of the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement within the Department of Health, where he was responsible for implementing and managing the launch of New York’s medical marijuana program in 2016, as well as the State’s Prescription Monitoring Program Registry and the shift in the State’s Official Prescription Program which required all prescriptions to be issued electronically, making New York the first in the nation to do so.
Prior to his time with New York State, Mr. O’Leary served as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office between 2001 and 2011, where he was assigned to the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor. In 2006, he was assigned to the Special Investigation Bureau as the Senior Investigative Counsel where he handled long term investigations of major narcotics trafficking and money laundering organizations.
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner Terry O’Leary said, “I thank Governor Hochul for the honor of leading this incredible team of public servants who have dedicated themselves to protecting the safety of New Yorkers. Since taking office, the Governor has placed a clear focus on strengthening our state’s public safety and emergency management postures and I am honored that she has asked me to lead the Division in carrying this vision forward.”
Read the original announcement here.
