Read the Commissioner's Bio

Ellen Greeley is the Assistant Commissioner of Policy and Strategic Partnerships for DVS. In this role, Ellen leverages private sector resources to help establish and sustain agency initiatives. Ellen also oversees grants management, data and reporting, and special programs.

Charles ‘Chuck’ Rivera is the Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications and Press Secretary at DVS. He oversees press operations, message strategy, and executive speechwriting while leading outreach that connects veterans and military families to benefits, housing and employment pathways, peer-support programming, and citywide events.

Prior to public service, Rivera spent years in national media, producing, writing, and researching news of the day at MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show and previously at ABC’s Good Morning America.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, he served as a noncommissioned officer with deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. After separating, he worked for Lockheed Martin in Qatar as a network analyst and Air Force liaison.

Rivera holds a B.A. in sociocultural anthropology and political science from Columbia University, with a focus on media. He brings a mission-first approach centered on clarity, accountability, and measurable results for New York City’s veterans and military families.

Nicole Orlando is the Deputy Chief of Staff at DVS, where she oversees a comprehensive portfolio spanning employment, education, entrepreneurship, veteran transition, and special events. In this role, she leads workforce development and economic empowerment initiatives, advances strategic partnerships across the public and private sectors, and plays a central role in planning and executing large-scale, citywide programs that connect veterans and military families to meaningful opportunities.

A lifelong New Yorker and Staten Island native, Orlando has dedicated her career to public service, driven by a commitment to improving outcomes for veterans, service members, and their families across New York City. She is currently in the process of joining the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, continuing her service beyond city government.

Orlando began her career at DVS as an intern in 2020 and has advanced through multiple roles within the agency. Her work centers on building inclusive systems that support veterans throughout their transition to civilian life, with a particular focus on career pathways, education access, and entrepreneurship. She holds a B.S. from CUNY Baruch College (Class of 2022) and brings a service-driven, outcomes-focused approach to strengthening opportunities for the military-affiliated community.