DHSES Executive Team

Terence O'Leary

Terence (Terry) O’Leary currently serves as the Acting Commissioner of DHSES.

Prior to being named Acting Commissioner, Terry served as Executive Deputy Commissioner of DHSES for nearly a decade. From 2014 to 2016, Terry 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 Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and the Division of Criminal Justice Services.

From 2011 to 2014, Terry served as the Director of Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement within the New York State Department of Health, where he was responsible for implementing and managing the State’s Prescription Monitoring Program Registry and overseeing the shift of the State’s Official Prescription Program to require all prescriptions be issued electronically, making New York the first in the nation to do so.

Terry previously 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, Terry 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.

Terry earned a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University of Maryland, majoring in history, and his Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University’s School of Law.  

Elisha Tomko

Elisha Tomko is the General Counsel for DHSES.  Since 2017, Elisha has managed the Office of Counsel and provided guidance, consultation, and support to the Commissioner and Executive Staff on a wide range of issues necessary to carry out the mission of the agency.  Elisha joined DHSES in 2010 as Counsel to the Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

Prior to joining the DHSES, Elisha worked in Counsel’s Office for the New York State Department of State for more than nine years as a local government and emergency response attorney. 

Elisha is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany and Albany Law School. 

Elizabeth Snyder

Elizabeth (Beth) Snyder is the Deputy Commissioner for Administration and Finance at DHSES, where she oversees Grants Program Administration, the Federal Fiscal Unit, Budget and Finance units, Risk Management, Human Resources, and Fleet and Facilities.

Prior to joining DHSES, Beth worked at the Division of Budget as a Principal Budget Examiner in the Public Protection Unit. Her portfolio included DHSES, New York State Police, and the Division of Military and Naval Affairs. She also served as Assistant Budget Director for the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) in 2017 and began her State career in 2010 overseeing fiscal operations for OCFS, the Office of National and Community Services, and the Office of the Welfare Inspector General.

Beth earned her Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University where she majored in Political Science. She also holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. 

Colin Brennan

Colin Brennan is the Deputy Commissioner for External Affairs for DHSES.

For more than a decade, Colin served in a number of external affairs roles throughout State government, including as DHSES Director of Communications.

Colin also served at the Executive Chamber as the Senior Deputy Communications Director and the Deputy Communications Director for the Public Safety and Health and Human Services portfolios. Before that, he served as a spokesman for the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Thruway Authority. He also spent time working in the New York State Senate and Assembly in various legislative and communications-based roles.

Colin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Albany.

Benjamin Voce-Gardner

Benjamin (Ben) Voce-Gardner currently serves as the Director of the Office of Counter Terrorism for DHSES. In this role, he is responsible for coordinating counterterrorism training and outreach to public and private stakeholders. He oversees the agency’s Cyber Incident Response Team, Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit, Public Safety Unit and Domestic Terrorism Prevention Unit. Ben previously served as DHSES' Director of Cybersecurity Policy, where he oversaw its cybersecurity assets and developed policies to address cybersecurity threats to State and local entities.

Before joining DHSES, Ben worked at the Executive Chamber as the Assistant Deputy Secretary for Public Safety, where his portfolio included DHSES, New York State Police, Division of Military and Naval Affairs, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and the Cyber Security Advisory Board.

Ben served for six years on active duty in the United States Navy and currently holds the rank of Commander in the Navy Reserves. He deployed to the Middle East twice in support of the Global War on Terror.

Ben received his Bachelor of Arts from Connecticut College, his Master of Science in Cybersecurity Risk and Strategy from New York University, and his Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School. 

Rayana Gonzales

Rayana Gonzales currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Disaster Recovery at DHSES. In this role, she oversees multimillion dollar recovery grant programs for public infrastructure, debris removal operations and federal assistance to disaster survivors. Additionally, she oversees program strategic planning and resourcing for hazard mitigation assistance programs.

Rayana first joined DHSES in 2020 as the Deputy Director for the Office of Disaster Recovery overseeing Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation and Individual Assistance programs.

Before joining DHSES, Rayana served in various leadership roles within the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), including as Director of Policy Analysis and Assistant Director of Budget. During her 19 years with OCFS, Rayana managed various State and federal initiatives such as State Child Welfare reform, the federal Strengthening Families Act, and expansion of the Kinship policy.

Rayana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Public Administration from (Southwest) Texas State University. 

Pete Cichetti

Pete Cichetti is the Director for the Office of Emergency Management at DHSES. In this role, he is responsible for coordinating the activities of all State agencies to protect New York's communities, economic well-being and environment from disasters and emergencies. He oversees all of OEM which includes the State Watch Center, Resources & Logistics, SEOC Readiness, Stockpiles, Data Visualization & GIS Analysis, Emergency Preparedness Initiatives, Planning, Training, Exercise, and Radiological Emergency Preparedness. Pete works closely with DHSES Executive staff to manage the operations that coordinate the State’s all hazards planning, preparedness, and response efforts.

Prior to beginning State service, Pete worked at Siena College as the Assistant Director for the Siena College Research Institute and an Adjunct Professor for Community Based Research. Pete began his New York State career as an Excelsior Fellow at the Office of Counter Terrorism and eventually became the Chief of Staff there. He then worked for the Governor’s Office coordinating the State’s COVID testing and mass vaccination efforts in 2020 and 2021. Pete became the Executive Deputy Director of the Office of Emergency Management in December 2021 and the Director in September 2025.

Pete has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College.

James Cable

James (Jim) Cable currently serves as the State Fire Administrator for the Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) at DHSES, overseeing the OFPC’s training, response, inspection and fire investigation programs.

Jim joined OFPC as a Fire Protection Specialist Trainee in 1997 and served in various roles within hazardous materials, fire investigation, fire training and standards, and special operations programs before being appointed as a Deputy State Fire Administrator in 2018 and then State Fire Administrator in 2021.

Jim served as an active volunteer firefighter and fire officer for more than 30 years and is a graduate of Bates College.

Mark J. Balistreri

Mark Balistreri currently serves as the Director of the Office of Interoperable and Emergency Communications (OIEC) for DHSES. OIEC is the lead state agency for all interoperable and emergency communications, which entails managing and directing the development, coordination and implementation of policies, plans, standards, programs and services related to such public safety communications.

Mark oversees responsibilities related to the State Interoperable Communications and Public Safety Answering Pont Grant programs, public safety land mobile radio, 911 support, Next Generation 911 development and implementation, and other public safety communications functions. Under his direction, OIEC is also responsible for a statewide communications network and a fleet of deployable assets that support all levels of government in large-scale incidents.

Mark began State service as a Radio Engineer with OIEC in 2017 with the mission to coordinate the Communications Unit program, including all coordination and support of trainings, meetings, exercises and planned events. He also coordinated the Communication Assets Survey and Mapping program and the Technical Assistance program.

Mark served in the United States Coast Guard for four-and-a-half years with distinction and was honorably discharged in 1988 at the rank of E4, Yeoman Third Class. He entered emergency services and dispatching with the Troy Police Department as a part-time police, fire and EMS dispatcher. In 2005, Mark was promoted to Deputy Director of Public Safety for Rensselaer County where he was responsible for managing the 911 Center and coordinating county emergency management resources. Mark joined the New York State 911 Coordinators Association in 2005 where he served as Secretary for 11 years. He was recognized for his efforts by the Association when he was presented with an Achievement Award in 2018 and the Garth Hillier Award in 2022.

Alfred Titus, Jr. 

Dr. Alfred S. Titus, Jr. serves as the Director of Training for DHSES. In this role, he oversees training by evaluating current programs, developing, and implementing new initiatives, and carrying out the ongoing evolution of the first response mission by addressing the training challenges of the current and next generation of public safety and emergency personnel.

Dr. Titus retired from NYPD with the rank of Detective First Grade where he managed, planned, and supervised complex high-profile investigations, establishing collaborative relationships with federal and state agencies. He also served as a lecturer at the New York City Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy. Subsequent to his retirement, Dr. Titus served as a Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice specializing in Criminal Justice and Research, and as Chief Executive Officer of a consulting firm that provided insight in criminal justice, community education, and public safety. He also founded a non-profit organization that established a college and trade school scholarship and focused on mentoring adults and youth towards education and achieving life goals.

Dr. Titus has also written and published several books aimed at motivating and empowering the youth, highlighting a career in law enforcement, promoting positive and safe interactions with law enforcement, and a children’s policing book that highlights diversity and good policing. Dr. Titus holds a Master of Public Administration from Marist College and a PhD. in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University.

Bob Stallman

Robert (Bob) Stallman currently serves as the Director of the State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC) in Oriskany where he manages and directs the overall SPTC training program and oversees the facility’s daily operations. Bob first joined DHSES in 2007, when it was known as the Office of Homeland Security, as one of two initial instructors at the newly created training center. During his tenure, Bob has served as trainer, training supervisor, and SPTC Assistant Director.

Bob began his public service career nearly 29 years ago as a police officer with the City of Little Falls Police Department and transferred to the City of Gloversville Police Department in 1999. During his time as a police officer, Bob delivered and directed training to countless officers throughout the State.

Bob holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York - College at Buffalo, and a Master of Public Administration from Marist College.