Sanitation Commissioner Gregory Anderson Appoints Joseph Antonelli as First Deputy Commissioner

August 27, 2026

DSNY Commissioner Gregory Anderson today appointed Joseph Antonelli as the Department’s First Deputy Commissioner, a position that oversees the agency’s administrative, financial and support functions and the approximately 2,000 civilian staff who provide critical support for the Department’s uniformed operations. Antonelli previously served as DSNY’s Deputy Commissioner of Management and Budget and Chief Financial Officer.

Antonelli was sworn in as First Deputy Commissioner this morning at a graduation and promotion ceremony in the historic Great Hall at the Cooper Union, the site of a legendary 1860 address by future President Abraham Lincoln. Commissioner Anderson also celebrated the swearing in of 140 new Sanitation Workers who completed their training this week, along with several civilian employees who were recently promoted.

“Joe Antonelli’s 15 years of complex management experience across multiple City agencies make him well-suited to serve as a key adviser and trusted leader,” said Sanitation Commissioner Gregory Anderson. “He has not only managed billion-dollar agency budgets through complex fiscal climates, but he also has leadership experience in uniformed emergency services. I look forward to working with Joe as we continue to pursue a cleaner city for all New Yorkers.”

“It is an honor and a privilege to be appointed First Deputy Commissioner,” said Joseph Antonelli, First Deputy Commissioner, New York City Department of Sanitation. “As a lifelong New Yorker, I fully understand the value of the work this agency does and the impact it has on everyone who resides in or visits the five boroughs. I look forward to ensuring that services are delivered efficiently and effectively, and to advancing the Administration’s priorities, including citywide waste containerization and enhanced cleanliness across our city.”

Reporting directly to the Commissioner, the First Deputy Commissioner is the top-ranking civilian employee and serves as the lead executive responsible for the Department’s bureaus of Solid Waste Management, Support Services, Human Capital, Management and Budget, Strategic Initiatives, and Information Technology. Along with the Commissioner and Chief of Department, the First Deputy Commissioner serves as a member of the Department’s core leadership team, ensuring the effective management and implementation of the agency’s strategic priorities.

In his role as Deputy Commissioner, Antonelli directed all financial and procurement operations and oversaw management analysis for the agency, ensuring appropriate resource allocation to support efficient public service delivery. He evaluated agency-wide efficiency and implemented strategies to reduce and mitigate the use of overtime for both uniform and civilian staff.

Prior to joining DSNY, Antonelli served as Deputy Commissioner for Management & Budget for the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation. At OTI, he also served as the Chief Financial Officer and was responsible for the day-to-day management of expense, capital, and revenue budgets for multiple entities under OTI’s budget umbrella, including the NYC Cyber Command and NYC311. He previously served in an executive leadership capacity with the NYC Department of Correction as the agency’s Acting Associate Commissioner for Budget Management & Planning and Assistant Commissioner for Financial Management and Budget Administration. Before joining DOC, Antonelli worked for the City’s Office of Management and Budget as Assistant Director and held various supervisory and analyst roles.

In addition to his New York City management experience, Antonelli brings extensive experience in uniformed operational leadership as a longtime member of the Manhasset-Lakeville Volunteer Fire Department, where he has served in a variety of roles including formerly as Chief of Department. In that role, he demonstrated leadership during emergency incidents of all kinds — experience that informs his understanding of DSNY’s emergency response mission.

Antonelli is a loving stepfather to Leonard, a 10-year-old Goldendoodle, whom he shares with his wife Rebecca.

The Department’s previous First Deputy Commissioner was Javier Lojan, who was appointed First Deputy Commissioner in January 2023 and subsequently served as Acting Commissioner from November 2024 through March 2026. Upon Anderson’s appointment as Commissioner, Lojan returned to his First Deputy Commissioner role before retiring from the Department in May 2026.

"Sanitation Workers deliver for millions of New Yorkers every day, and their incredible work requires the support of thousands of dedicated civilian employees — IT personnel, an HR team, and so many more. In my time working with Joe, I saw how much he cares about the mission of DSNY, and I know he'll work tirelessly to support the civilian bureaus under his command and the work of the agency at large,” Lojan said.