County Executive Robert P. Astorino today elevated two of his deputies to the top positions in their respective departments:
- Dr. Kunjlata Ashar, the First Deputy Medical Examiner who has been serving as Acting Medical Examiner for more than two years, was appointed Medical Examiner and Commissioner of Labs and Research;
- John McCaffrey was named Chief Information Officer, heading the Department of Information Technology (DoIT), moving up from the department's first deputy position.
"I am proud to make these appointments," said Astorino. "Both Dr. Ashar and John McCaffrey are experts in their respective fields. They understand the workings of county government and are extremely well qualified to take on their new roles. Westchester County is lucky to be able to tap two such highly talented individuals to serve in these important positions."
The appointments go to the Board of Legislators for confirmation.
Medical Examiner
Dr. Ashar was named Acting Medical Examiner by Astorino in August 2010. She received her training in anatomic pathology and began working on a per-diem basis for the medical examiner's office in New York City and Westchester in 1983. She took a full-time job with Westchester's Medical Examiner's Office in 1988 and became deputy medical examiner in 2001 and first deputy in 2008.
The department, with a budget of about $13.5 million, conducts scientific tests in matters ranging from criminal evidence to public health concerns. It has five divisions: the Medical Examiner, Forensics, Toxicology, Microbiology and Environmental. Services include performing autopsies, analyzing evidence in its state-of-the-art DNA Crime Lab, doing drug and alcohol testing, identifying infectious agents that may cause diseases and testing water and soil.
"I thank County Executive Astorino for this promotion," Dr. Ashar said. "I am happy to have the opportunity to continue to serve the people of Westchester."
Chief Information Officer
McCaffrey, who has an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Illinois, has a wide range of experience in the IT area. Prior to his appointment in 2011 as Westchester's First Deputy of Information Technology, he served as Commissioner of Information Technology for Orange County.
Other jobs he has held include Director of Information Technology for the Village of Skokie, Il and Deputy Commissioner of Finance for the Town of North Hempstead. He has also been a technology consultant for a variety of retail, accounting and public safety firms and agencies.
"Since coming to Westchester, I have been very impressed with the cutting-edge technology initiatives that originate with the Department of Information Technology," said McCaffrey. "With the continuing evolution of technology, I look forward to leading this department's staff as we develop ways to make government more efficient. I thank County Executive Astorino for giving me this opportunity."
He succeeds Marguerite Beirne, who resigned. "I wish the very best for the IT Department going forward, which is vital to the success of every county operation," said Beirne, who became the CIO in 2008 under former County Executive Andrew Spano. "I have enjoyed working with all the professionals in the department and my time in county government."
Astorino praised Beirne, saying, "I want to thank Commissioner Beirne for her professionalism and service to the county."
The Department of Information Technology designs, builds, procures, implements and supports information systems and technology for all county departments.