Commissioner Timothy R. Hogues
Timothy R. Hogues serves as the Commissioner for the Department of Civil Service and President of the Civil Service Commission. He was nominated by Governor Kathy Hochul to serve in these roles in April 2022 and unanimously confirmed by the New York State Senate in June 2022.
Commissioner Hogues is overseeing a large modernization effort to streamline the civil service process for New York State. Under the direction of Governor Hochul, Commissioner Hogues is leading the Department of Civil Service through a period of transformation to help rebuild and retain the State's public workforce. During his tenure, the Department has implemented the unprecedented New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (NY HELPS) program, expanded the Governor's Program to Hire Individuals with Disabilities, and waived the civil service exam fees for state exams through December 2025. In addition, Commissioner Hogues is overseeing the establishment of computer-based testing centers across New York State to make testing more convenient for jobseekers, as well as launching Centers for Careers in Government and a public awareness campaign to better meet jobseekers where they are and spread the word about the diverse careers available in public service.
In addition to his role at the Department of Civil Service, Governor Hochul appointed Commissioner Hogues to serve on the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies. The Commission, formed through legislation signed in December 2023, acknowledges the horrific injustice of slavery and is tasked with examining the legacy of slavery, subsequent discrimination against people of African descent, and the impact these forces continue to have in the present day.
Prior to joining the Department of Civil Service, Commissioner Hogues served as the Personnel Commissioner for Erie County where he was responsible for overseeing services provided to more than 130 appointing authorities and approximately 24,000 employees countywide through the implementation and maintenance of services that support and facilitate the recruiting, selection, hiring, development, and retention of local government and school district employees in accordance with Civil Service Laws and Regulations. Commissioner Hogues began this role after being appointed by Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz in 2019.
Previously, Commissioner Hogues served as Commissioner for the Erie County Department of Senior Services where, under his leadership, the Department worked diligently to improve the quality of care at nursing homes throughout Erie County. As part of these efforts, Commissioner Hogues championed a new initiative with the Erie County Executive to ensure that nursing homes notified families quickly after a reportable event and increased transparency and accountability via semi-annual reporting. In addition, Commissioner Hogues also took on the challenge of a steadily declining participation in the congregate dining program in Erie County by improving the congregate dining experience and creating non-traditional dining options for thousands of eligible older adults across Erie County. During his tenure, he was also able to increase partnerships and meaningful programing within faith-based, LGBTQ+, and across communities of color, to ensure better access to information and services.
From 2012-2013, Commissioner Hogues also served as a member of the Erie County Legislature. In addition to his years of dedicated government service, Commissioner Hogues also worked as an Operations Manager at private firms across the Buffalo area, helping them improve their bottom line, strengthen operations, and improve overall customer service.
Commissioner Hogues serves on several community boards throughout the Buffalo area and is a licensed minister at Elim Christian Fellowship in Buffalo. Commissioner Hogues is a proud graduate of University of Buffalo where he graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration and Management.
Executive Deputy Commissioner - Rebecca A. Corso
Rebecca A. Corso serves as the Executive Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Civil Service. In this role, Executive Deputy Commissioner Corso oversees the Department's operations and works in partnership with the Commissioner to ensure the agency is fulfilling its mission. Executive Deputy Commissioner Corso has been with the Department of Civil Service since 2016 and has previously served as the Acting Commissioner and as the Deputy Commissioner for Operations.
During her tenure, Executive Deputy Commissioner Corso has guided the Department through periods of transformation, including leading the agency through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her efforts not only helped the agency adapt to serving the public during this trying time, but assisted partner agencies with vital personnel resources to quickly respond to the crisis on behalf of all New Yorkers. As the Department has worked to rebuild following the pandemic, Executive Deputy Commissioner Corso is leading the Department through unprecedented transformation and modernization efforts. She is also putting into operation the many new programs underway to help rebuild and retain the State's public workforce, from the expanded New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (NY HELPS) program to the establishment of computer-based testing centers across the Empire State.
Executive Deputy Commissioner Corso has 20 years of experience in the administration of New York State government programs and operations. Prior to joining the Department of Civil Service, she focused on long-term care and health care finance as a Deputy Director with the Office of Health Insurance Programs within the New York State Department of Health. She also served as Associate Budget Examiner with the New York State Division of Budget and was a senior consultant focusing on health care issues for Public Consulting Group. Executive Deputy Commissioner Corso has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Binghamton University and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, State University at Albany.
Deputy Commissioner for Administration - Jian Paolucci
Jian Paolucci serves as the Deputy Commissioner for Administration for the Department of Civil Service. In this role, Deputy Commissioner Paolucci oversees the day-to-day administrative functions of the agency, which includes oversight of the Office of Financial Administration, the Office of Human Resources and Administrative Planning, the Public Information Office, and Office of Strategic Planning and Innovation. Deputy Commissioner Paolucci first joined the Department of Civil Service in 2016, and has previously served as the Director of Public Information and External Affairs during his time with the agency.
Deputy Commissioner for Municipal Services - Joe Cavazos
Joe Cavazos serves as the Deputy Commissioner for Municipal Services, Commission Operations and Audit and Risk Management for the Department of Civil Service. In this role, Deputy Commissioner Cavazos oversees Municipal Services, which provides technical advice and assistance to 95 local civil service agencies and supports the Civil Service Commission in review of local rulemaking proposals and analysis of 211 waiver requests and Commission Operations, which supports the Civil Service Commission in review or state rulemaking proposals and amendments to these rules for State Service. Deputy Commissioner Cavazos has been with the Department and served in this role since 2016.
Deputy Commissioner for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) - Michael Washington
Michael Washington serves as the Deputy Commissioner for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) for the Department of Civil Service. In this role, Deputy Commissioner Washington is responsible for the Department's DEIA programming and initiatives, which includes overseeing the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Management (ODIM), oversight of the recently established Executive Order #31 and the Excelsior Fellowship Program. He leads the Department on the creation of statewide policies, programs, trainings, trend analysis, data collection, and outreach and recruitment initiatives geared toward ensuring we have a workplace that is representative of the many and diverse communities we serve. Deputy Commissioner Washington first joined the Department of Civil Service in 2018 and has previously served as the Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Management during his time with the agency.
Deputy Commissioner for Merit System Operations - Jessica Rowe
Jessica Rowe serves as the Deputy Commissioner for Merit System Operations. In this role, Deputy Commissioner Rowe oversees the Staffing Services Division, the Testing Services Division, and Employee Health Services. In this role, Deputy Commissioner Rowe provides leadership and guidance in the formulation of Department policy, strategy, goals, and objectives relating to State personnel management, including the staffing, examination, and recruitment of the State workforce. She is providing oversight for successful design and implementation of many critical initiatives to modernize the merit system to help meet jobseekers where they are. Deputy Commissioner Rowe has spent her entire career with the Department of Civil Service, having first joined the agency in 2005 as an intern and most recently serving as the Director of the Staffing Services Division.
| Commissioner | Timothy R Hogues |
| Executive Deputy Commissioner | Rebecca A. Corso |
| Deputy Commissioner for Administration | Jian Paolucci |
| Deputy Commissioner for Municipal Services | Joe Cavazos |
| Deputy Commissioner for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility | Michael Washington |
| Deputy Commissioner for Merit System Operations | Jessica Rowe |
| General Counsel | Eugene Sarfoh |
| Divisions | |
| Office of Audit and Risk Management is responsible for administering a comprehensive audit and review program that provides assurance and consulting services to management staff. The Office also coordinates with the Office of Information Technology Services to ensure adequate information-security policies, procedures, review, response and evaluation protocols are in place to protect agency information assets. | Leif Engstrom Director |
| Classification & Compensation (C&C) administers a sound and responsive position classification and compensation plan that ensures fairness, equity, and sensitivity to market conditions; and helps the State attract and retain talent. This is accomplished through review of requests for new positions, changes in the title and salary grade of existing positions, and salary differentials; and establishment of title specifications. C&C also serves a consultative role in the rightsizing of State government by its work helping newly organized or reorganized agencies achieve organizational structures conducive to their missions. | Abner JeanPierre Director |
| Commission Operations assists State agencies in discharging their duties under the oversight of the State Civil Service Commission. Commission staff reviews, analyzes, and provides recommendations on matters presented to the Civil Service Commission, providing an independent assessment on a wide range of state and local requests. These requests include jurisdictional classifications, appeals, changes to Civil Service Rules and Regulations, matters of local civil service jurisdictions, operating division staff requests and other matters requiring Commission determination. | Al Jordan Manager |
| Office of Counsel provides legal counsel and advice to the Department, as well as other State government entities. Its goals are to ensure that all activities conform to applicable legal requirements, to protect the Department's and Commission's interests, and to help the agency and each of its divisions to accomplish their missions in a legally sound fashion. This advice covers a wide spectrum of practice areas, including matters relating to employment, labor, discrimination, employee benefits, healthcare reform, privacy, and procurements/contracts. In addition, the Office oversees the coordination of FOIL requests, in consultation with the Department's subject matter experts. | Eugene Sarfoh General Counsel |
| Office of Diversity and Inclusion Management (ODIM) is responsible for supporting all State agencies in developing a Statewide Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan, as well as a Framework and Implementation Plan to increase diversity in the workforce, and cultivate and promote an environment of workplace inclusion, pursuant to Executive Order No. 187. ODIM assists State agencies with incorporating equal employment opportunity principles into their operational policies and practices, including the vital programs and services delivered to State employees and the public. | Nicole Keith Director |
| Employee Benefits has the lead role for administering the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP), one of the largest public employer health insurance programs in the nation covering more than 1.2 million lives. Program administration includes maintenance of enrollment records; technical support to front-line human resources staff in more than 1,300 State and participating local government agencies; enrollee customer services; and benefit plan communications. | Daniel Yanulavich Director |
| Employee Health Service (EHS) offers medical examination services, including pre-employment, fitness-for-duty / return-to-work, and occupational health examinations, for all New York State departments and agencies. EHS provides agencies with a determination of an individual's ability to safely perform the duties of a State job and assists agencies to fulfill mandated medical monitoring requirements. In addition, EHS Nurses perform occupational health screening and immunization services throughout the State. | Dr. Donald McLaren Director |
| Office of Financial Administration is responsible for overall agency fiscal management, including budget preparation; the monitoring of accounts receivables and accounts payables; and the development of NYSHIP premiums for billing to enrollees and participating local government agencies. In addition, the Office is responsible for administering the procurement process, from the solicitation of offeror bids to the development of contracts; and overseeing centralized office services including property management and mailroom operations. | Katelyn Wilder Director |
| Office of Human Resources and Administrative Planning (OHRAP) oversees programs and policies relating to the employment of Department personnel. OHRAP is responsible for all staffing and personnel transactions, including recruitment efforts, administrative analysis, employee relations, performance evaluations, and onboarding. | Sandra Cianfarani Director |
| Municipal Services (MSD) provides technical advice and assistance to 95 local civil service agencies on the full range of civil service activities as required by Civil Service Law. Division staff also support the Commission in its monitoring of New York City's provisional employee reduction activities, review of local rulemaking proposals, and analysis of section 211 waiver requests. | Maria Kenneally Frank Belleville Managers |
| New York State Fellowship Programs The New York State Fellowship programs serve to recruit the next generation of talent into public service. The main goal of the Fellowship programs is to attract highly qualified, diverse talent who many not otherwise have a clear pathway to State service. The Fellowship program includes a variety of fellowships from the Empire State Fellowship aimed at mid-career professionals to the Excelsior Service Fellowship aimed at recent graduates of New York State law, professional and graduate schools. In addition, the program also includes oversight of the Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Edie Windsor LGBTQ+ Fellowship, the Carey Gabay Fellowship, and the NYS Science Policy Fellowship. | Kara Pangburn Director |
| Public Information Office (PIO) is responsible for maintaining a broad-based communications program to ensure that all interested constituent groups are aware of Department programs and services. The Director of Public Information serves as the spokesperson for the Department and communicates proactively through media interaction and the dissemination of announcements to the general public. In addition, the Office administers the agency's public website and responds to general inquiries from job seekers, State employees, and other constituents. | Erin McCarthy Director |
| Staffing Services (SSD) is responsible for assisting State agencies with staffing the State service. SSD provides merit system guidance and oversight: examination planning, development and implementation; personnel recruitment and placement services; career mobility guidance; eligible list management; appointment transaction processing and payroll certification to over 70 State agencies. In carrying out these responsibilities, SSD staff interacts with a variety of clientele, including personnel and program representatives of State agencies, current and former State employees, job seekers, and employee organizations. SSD also oversees the Employee Health Service (EHS). | Benjamin Gifford Director |
| Strategic Planning Innovation performs management activities designed to set priorities, focus energy and resources, strengthen operations, and ensure that employees and other stakeholders are working together to achieve measurable results. The Division also leads critical Department projects, manages state-wide reporting and provides oversight for information technology projects and support. | Heather Orth Director |
| Testing Services (TSD) is responsible for the development, administration, scoring, and validation of tests for State agencies and local jurisdictions. TSD is divided into two major functional areas: Test Development, which is responsible for examination planning, test development, post-test analysis, and validation; and Testing Systems and Support, which is responsible for coordinating testing information systems and for test administration, which includes the production of test booklets and related test materials, printing and shipping, and scoring tests. | Debra Penn Director |