Commissioner Velez Appoints Frederick S. Cohen Assistant Commissioner of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at DHS

New Jersey Department of Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez today named Frederick S. Cohen, as the department's assistant commissioner for legal and regulatory affairs. His office will oversee the Office of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and the Bureau of Guardianship Services.

Cohen, of Lawrence , is an attorney with more than 30 years experience in a wide range of posts in the public and private sectors including, executive director of Legal and Regulatory Services at the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD) since 1995.

“Fred Cohen has had an outstanding career in public service with the states of New Jersey and New York.,” Commissioner Velez said. “We have worked with him at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development for many years. He knows our issues and he will be a strong asset to the department.”

Before taking his post at the state DLWD, Cohen was in private practice, specializing in civil trial and appellate issues for six years. Between 1982 and 1989, he was an assistant attorney general in the Office of the Attorney General of New York. Prior to that, he served as a deputy attorney general in the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General for seven years.

“I am both happy and honored to be a new employee with DHS. I have tremendous respect for Commissioner Velez and the work that is being done at the department. I look forward to expanding my knowledge by working with the divisions and stakeholders.” said Cohen, a 1974 graduate of Rutgers University School of Law. 

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