U.S. Army Lt. Colonel J. Guillermo Rosa faced challenging circumstances before, including a leadership position in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Rosa is retiring from military service to take on a new challenge. Rockland County Executive Elect Ed Day announced Monday that Rosa will serve as his Chief of Staff and as Deputy County Executive.
"Guillermo has the world class experience I need on a team as we take on the daunting task of righting Rockland's ship," Day said during a press conference in the County Executive Media room in the County Office Building in New City. "He has worked under the most difficult circumstances imaginable to bring peace and order to parts of the world that have known nothing but pain and suffering for generations. His skills as an adviser and ability to spearhead projects and build partnerships are trusted at the highest levels of our military and our diplomatic corps."
Rosa is currently assigned to the Pentagon, but works at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. In Iraq from 2006 to 2008, he served as chief of plans for civil affairs, where overseeing logistics for personnel movements and building relationships with local leaders. In 2003, Rosa represented the U.S. Department of Defense in its interactions with a new Bosnian military and civilian leadership.
"I'm very, very excited to be here and very excited to be given the opportunity to serve on Ed's team going forward," Rosa sad."I stand here today because when Ed put his campaign together....it resonated with me as it resonated with the people in Rockland County.
"I am here to serve just as I went other places to serve. I just get the privilege now to serve the people of Rockland, which I am very proud of and look forward to."
Rosa studied social and political science at the University of Puerto Rico and he earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration at Marist College. The Garnerville resident said his time as Assistant Director of Development for St. Dominic's in Blauvelt will also help him as Chief of Staff, bringing a strong knowledge of the issues facing those with special needs.
Rosa said that transparency will also be an important part of Day's County Executive office. Day said that he hoped to chose a director of communications by the end of the year, with input from Rosa and his transition team. He added that they would not be creating any new positions, just modifying some that already exist. Day said that Rosa would join him in taking a reduced salary and will help him to streamline the office of County Executive.
"He agrees with me that leaders must set an example and, like me , will be taking a significant pay cut simply to serve the people of Rockland County," Day said. "He will use his extensive management experience to do more with the county with fewer resources."
Day, currently a member of Rockland County Legislature, will be sworn in as Rockland County Executive Jan. 1, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Rockland County Fire Training Center in Pomona.
For video from Monday's press conference, click here.
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