James D. O’Donnell is an Orange County Legislator. Elected in 2016 in a Special Election and re-elected in 2017 and 2021. Mr. O’Donnell has also served on several community boards throughout Orange and Dutchess Counties.
Mr. O’Donnell began his distinguished career as a New York State Trooper. Subsequently serving as Captain in charge of the statewide Violent Felony Warrant Squad and Major in charge of all State Police operations in New York City. He returned to Orange County as Troop Commander of Troop F in Middletown. In 1995, he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel in charge of all Uniform Trooper patrol operations.
Throughout his career, Mr. O’Donnell has been recognized frequently for his outstanding service. He established the Troop "F" DARE Program and the "Trooper on Patrol" Program.
In 1999 Mr. O’Donnell was appointed Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department. As Chief, Mr. O’Donnell initiated reengineering the former Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad Police Departments into the new MTA Police Department.
To ensure protection of MTA facilities and infrastructure against the threat of terrorism Chief O’Donnell improved planning for emergency preparedness. Chief O’Donnell secured assignment of his Deputy Chief to the International Association of Chief of Police Terrorism Committee as well as MTA Police to the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorist Task Force. Both of these assignments were proven to be critical after the WTC attacks on September 11, 2001. Chief O’Donnell oversaw the MTA’s evacuation of New York City on that day and the police response during the months after the attack.
O’Donnell joined Orange County Government in 2004 as the Director of Operations. In 2005 he was appointed to the position of Deputy County Executive and served in this role until 2013. During his tenure, Mr. O’Donnell was in charge of Economic Development and served as the Executive Director of the Foreign Trade Zone as well as Executive Director of the Orange County Industrial Development Agency.
Mr. O’Donnell graduated from Tolentine High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dominican University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has attended the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government as well as graduate level study at the University of Alabama.
Mr. O’Donnell has been married to his lovely wife Margaret for 52 years. They have eight children: Christy, Joanne, Jamie, Maggie, Michael, Molly, Ellen, and John Kerry. They have seven grandchildren: Hudson, Luke, James, Cailyn, Keira, Maya and Grady.