Effective January 29, 2016, Former Commissioner of the NYC Office of Emergency Management (NYC OEM) Joseph F. Bruno has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Helen Keller Services (HKS), a national organization founded in 1893 comprised of Helen Keller Services for the Blind (HKSB) and Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC). The announcement was made by Christopher Maher, Chairman of HKS’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Bruno succeeds Mr. Thomas J. Edwards, who is retiring from HKS after six years of service.

“Joe has been an extremely active board trustee for over 16 years,” observed Mr. Maher, “especially on HKS’ Operations Committee, which oversees our programs. Everyone here looks forward to working with him as he takes the helm of HKS.”

Mr. Bruno brings with him over four decades of public service under five New York City mayors, including Mayors John Lindsay, Abe Beame, Ed Koch, Mike Bloomberg, and Bill de Blasio.

“I am deeply honored to serve HKS as President and CEO,” stated Mr. Bruno. “The same enthusiasm and leadership that I have shown throughout my many years of public service will be directed to HKS and its important work on behalf of individuals in need in New York and across the country. It is a great responsibility and I could not be more pleased by my new role in the organization.”

Mr. Bruno’s public service career is one marked by significant achievement from his beginning days as a Parole Officer for the State of New York to his recent 10-year tenure as New York City OEM Commissioner, which began in 2004 less than three years after the 9/11 Tragedy. His expertise in emergency management has garnered the attention of elected officials and leadership worldwide.

Mr. Bruno is a lifelong New York City resident who holds a B.S. in Economics from City College and a J.D. from St. John's University Law School.

Helen Keller Services’ mission is to enable individuals who are blind, visually-impaired, deaf-blind and/or have combined hearing-vision loss to live, work and thrive in their community of choice. HKS offers services and programs through two divisions: Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults and Helen Keller Services for the Blind. For more information, please visit www.helenkeller.org.