GOVERNOR APPOINTS LYNCH AS HOUSING COMMISSIONER
Governor George Pataki announced the appointment of Joseph B. Lynch as Commissioner to the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) in mid-February of this year.
"Joe Lynch’s knowledge and display of expertise in the housing industry makes him well suited for the position," Governor Pataki said. "He is an experienced executive with strong management skills and leadership abilities. I am confident he will continue to serve the people of New York State with distinction."
Joseph Lynch joined DHCR in April, 1995 as Deputy Commissioner for Community Development; followed by First Deputy Commissioner in June, 1995 and then was asked by Governor Pataki to serve as Acting Commissioner on November 1, 1996.
Lynch was former Area Manager of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Buffalo Office and Acting Regional Administrator. He has had a 35-year career in managing and directing a full range of programs and processes in the housing, real estate, finance and construction fields. As area manager, Lynch was charged with providing an extensive range of housing and community development programs and administering HUD’s operating program in 48 counties in upstate New York.
"It is an honor to be chosen by Governor Pataki to serve in his cabinet. I will continue to work hard to ensure Governor Pataki’s mandate of efficient and effective government is fulfilled," said Lynch.
Lynch also served as the Acting Regional Administrator/Regional Housing Commissioner of HUD’s Region II Office in New York city where he directed all departmental programs and activities in the States of New York and New Jersey, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and U.S. Territory of the Virgin Islands.
Prior to joining HUD, Lynch was the president and chief executive officer of the Audubon New Community in Amherst, NY and also served as the senior staff officer for the NYS Urban Development Corporation (UDC) in the western New York area.
As director of design and construction for the State University Construction Fund, Lynch was responsible for the planning, design and construction activities for the new Amherst Campus of the State University of New York at Buffalo and the State University Colleges at Brockport, Buffalo and Fredonia.
The Commissioner serves as a board member and Chairman of the National Affordable Housing Act Task Force and partnership Advisory Committee, Riverbay (Co-op City) Corporation, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation and the State of New York Housing Trust Fund Corporation. He is a member of the Governor’s Task Force to Restructure Employment, Health and Social Services, the NYS Interagency Task Force on HIV/AIDS and the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.
A registered architect, Lynch graduated from Rensselaer Poytechnic Institute and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy.