RELEASE: March 22 , 2004

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Senate Confirms James Davy as Human Services Commissioner

James Davy, who came to the Department of Human Services several weeks ago and immediately began supervising the drafting of an ambitious child welfare reform plan, received state Senate confirmation today to be the new Commissioner.

Davy had served as acting Commissioner since Feb. 1.

Much of his time at DHS so far has been consumed by the child welfare plan, which was approved in principle last Friday by a court-appointed expert panel overseeing reform of the Division of Youth and Family Services.

“In my weeks at this Department, I have been continually impressed with the caliber of people I encounter and the significance of the work they do every day,” Davy said. “This Department does the most important work that government can do. I am both honored and humbled that Governor McGreevey entrusted me to run DHS and the Senate concurred with his judgment.”

DHS is the largest department in state government, employing about 19,000 people and serving one million of New Jersey’s residents.

Before becoming acting DHS Commissioner, Davy was Chief of Management and Operations in the Governor’s Office, a position he had held since Governor James McGreevey took office in January 2002.

Prior to joining state government, Davy was Business Administrator in Woodbridge Township for 10 years. He held similar positions in South Brunswick, Hopewell and West Milford.

Davy earned his master’s degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and his undergraduate degree from Thiel College in Pennsylvania. He also has taught as an Adjunct Professor in Seton Hall University’s Masters in Public Administration Program.

Davy lives in Pennington with his wife, Lucille, and their two sons.

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