Deputy Orange County Executive James D. O”™Donnell resigned effective May 8, reportedly to pursue other, unspecified opportunities.
“Jimmy has been a strategic member of my leadership team for more than a decade,” County Executive Ed Diana said. “He joined the county executive”™s office as director of operations and has served as deputy county executive for eight years. Jimmy has also led Orange County”™s economic development efforts and has been instrumental in attracting business and creating jobs in the county.”
Diana named Steven M. Gross as acting deputy county executive. Gross has served the county for 18 years, including as assistant to the county executive, director of operations and human resources commissioner to which he was appointed three years ago.
O”™Donnell, a resident of Goshen, joined the county executive”™s office in 2005, following his tenure as chief of the MTA police force and a career as a New York State trooper from which he retired a lieutenant colonel.