Our Executive Team

 

First Deputy Superintendent R. Christopher West was appointed to his current role as second in command of the New York State Police on April 4, 2024. He previously served as Assistant Deputy Superintendent – Chief of Staff from March 2022 to April 2024. 

In April 2009, he was promoted to Lieutenant in the Special Operations section where he served as the Lieutenant in charge of the Special Operations Response Team. In July of 2017, First Deputy Superintendent West was promoted to Captain and assigned to the Professional Standards Bureau, where he remained until October 2017, when he was assigned as Zone Commander in Troop G Zone 4 (SP Capital). First Deputy Superintendent West was promoted November of 2020 to Major  – Troop Commander of Troop G, where he served until March 2022.

First Deputy Superintendent West is a 30-plus year veteran of the Division of State Police and has been a Commissioned Officer since April 2009. He joined the Division of State Police on October 1, 1990, and is a graduate of Wagner College and holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology.        

Colonel Darrin S. Pitkin currently holds the position of Deputy Superintendent - Field Command. As Field Commander, he oversees the operations of the Uniform Force, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the New York State Intelligence Center, the Office of Counter Terrorism, and the associated special details of these units. He is third in command of the agency.

Previously, Colonel Pitkin served as Assistant Deputy Superintendent assigned to the Professional Standards Bureau, overseeing personnel complaint investigations and internal audits for the State Police in the Central and Northern Regions. In addition, he also supervised the random drug testing program and handled all duties associated with the administration of the program for an agency of 5,000 plus employees.

Colonel Pitkin received his bachelor’s degree in Economics and Sociology/Criminal Justice from SUNY Potsdam in Potsdam, NY, and his master’s degree in Public Administration from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. Colonel Pitkin is also a graduate of the 202nd Session of the FBI National Academy.

Colonel Daniel J. Cooney currently serves as Deputy Superintendent – Administration. Colonel Cooney previously held the position of Deputy Superintendent -Field Command. Prior to his appointment to Field Command, he served as Deputy Superintendent of the New York State Police Professional Standards Bureau, which is responsible for Internal Affairs and Inspectional Operations within the agency.

Deputy Superintendent Cooney is a 34-year veteran of the State Police, having held positions in both the Uniform Force and Bureau of Criminal Investigation, including seven years as Assistant Deputy Superintendent for Counter Terrorism & Intelligence.     

 

Colonel Andrew J. Crowe serves as Deputy Superintendent – Counter Terrorism. Colonel Crowe previously held the position of Assistant Deputy Superintendent – Office of Counter Terrorism. In that role he oversaw the state’s Fusion Center – The New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC), Counter Terrorism and Intelligence Units, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Colonel Crowe has over 24-years of service with the NYSP and has served in various positions in the Uniform Force, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and Professional Standards Bureau (PSB). He is a graduate of St. Lawrence University, the Naval Post Graduate School Fusion Center Leader Program, and attended the Rockefeller College at University of Albany - Homeland Security Graduate Program. 

 

Colonel Carla A. DiRienzo serves as the Deputy Superintendent for Employee Relations. In this capacity, Colonel DiRienzo works with the Office of Employee Relations in collective bargaining negotiations and consultations with unions representing Division employees, directs State Police Academy operations and training, Headquarters personnel and hiring sections, and oversees our Recruitment, Affirmative Action, and Employee Assistance Programs.

Colonel DiRienzo has over 30 years of service with the NYSP and has served in various ranks and assignments within the Uniform Force, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Professional Standards Bureau and the Office of Counter Terrorism. She received her master’s degree in criminal justice from the SUNY Albany.

Colonel James E. Barnes currently serves as Deputy Superintendent –  Professional Standards Bureau, which is responsible for Internal Affairs and Inspectional Operations within the agency.

He previously served as Assistant Deputy Superintendent - Bureau of Criminal Investigation, from December 2019 to February 2024 where he was  responsible for supervising the performance of statewide BCI operations which is primarily responsible for felony and certain misdemeanor level criminal investigations.

Colonel Barnes also served as the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Superintendent. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Quantico, Virginia.

Lt. Colonel Richard L. Mazzone was appointed Assistant Deputy Superintendent in November 2020. In this capacity, Lt. Colonel Mazzone is responsible for overseeing the Uniform Force of the State Police which consists of Uniform Troopers and Supervisors in each of the eleven Troops as well as Aviation, Division Traffic Services and Special Operations (i.e., Special Operations Response Team, Mobile Field Unit, Underwater Recovery Team, Bomb Disposal Unit, Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team and Canine Unit).

Lt. Colonel Mazzone has over 24-years of service dedicated to the New York State Police having served in various assignments within the Uniform Force, Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Professional Standards Bureau.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Empire State College, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and served in the United States Marine Corps. Lt. Colonel Mazzone currently resides in the Hudson Valley area with his wife and two children.

Lt. Colonel Paul M. DeQuarto currently serves as Assistant Deputy Superintendent - Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Lt. Colonel DeQuarto is responsible for supervising the performance of statewide BCI operations which is the non-uniformed investigative branch of the New York State Police and is primarily responsible for felony and certain misdemeanor level criminal investigations. 

Lt. Colonel DeQuarto has over 23-years of service dedicated to the New York State Police having served as a Staff Inspector – Field Command / Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Major – Troop Commander, Captain – Special Investigations Unit, Captain, Zone Commander, Captain – Professional Standards Bureau and various other assignments within the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Uniform Force.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Marist College and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. 

Lt. Colonel Nicholas A. Banbury serves as Assistant Deputy Superintendent – Administration. He was appointed to his current position in October 2023. Prior to his current assignment, he served as a Regional Staff Inspector of the Professional Standards Bureau – Southern Regional Office for two and a half years.  Lt. Colonel Banbury had also been assigned to the NYSP Crime Laboratory System as a Major. Lt. Colonel Banbury has held supervisory positions primarily in the Hudson Valley and Capital District, including assignments to Troop K and the Protective Services Unit.

Lt. Colonel Banbury joined the New York State Police in 1997 and earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology from Ithaca College.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert B. Appleton serves as the Assistant Deputy Superintendent – Employee Relations.  Lt. Colonel Appleton previously held the position of Staff Inspector, Field Command, Uniform Force, East region.

Lt. Colonel Appleton is a 28-year veteran of the Division of State Police and has been a Commissioned Officer since September 2013.  He has served in various roles including; Major, Detail Commander of Aviation, NYS Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Commander, Professional Standards Bureau, Troop G BCI Captain, Zone Commander – Troop F Zone 3, and Troop G Uniform and BCI assignments.

Lt Colonel Appleton earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Norwich University, The Military College of Vermont, and a master’s degree in public administration from Marist College.

Lieutenant Colonel Philip Fouché is the Assistant Deputy Superintendent of Employee Relations for the New York State Police, overseeing recruitment, the State Police Academy, field training, and promotional exams.

Throughout his career, Lt. Colonel Fouché has served in a variety of roles across several sections, including Planning, Research & Development, Administration, and Traffic. His assignments have included Assistant Zone Commander, Administrative Captain, and Zone Commander in Troop G, as well as Major in the Professional Standards Bureau and Staff Inspector in Employee Relations.

Lt. Colonel Fouché holds a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from SUNY Albany.

Lt. Colonel Gregory S. Thomas serves as Assistant Deputy Superintendent assigned to the Professional Standards Bureau, overseeing personnel investigations and audit functions for the Division of State Police. Lt. Colonel Thomas joined the State Police in January 1996.  Throughout his career he has served in various ranks and assignments in both the uniform force as well as in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Lt. Colonel Thomas holds a master's degree in Public Policy and a bachelor's in Political Science. He is originally from Buffalo, NY.

 

Lt. Colonel Michael S. TenEyck currently holds the position of Assistant Deputy Superintendent – Office of Counter Terrorism.  In this position he has oversight of the state’s Fusion Center – The New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC), Counter Terrorism and Intelligence Units, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Lt. Colonel TenEyck began his career with the State Police on January 8, 1996, when he entered the New York State Police Academy.

In August 2003, he was promoted to Sergeant, and in 2006 he was appointed to Investigator and was assigned to the Gaming Detail and then to SP Lysander.

Lt. Colonel TenEyck was promoted to Lieutenant in June 2008 and was assigned in various positions such as BCI Field Command in Albany, Assistant Zone Commander at SP Marcy, Central Region Emergency Management, and supervised the Central NY Community Narcotics Enforcement Team.

In July of 2016, Lt. Colonel TenEyck was appointed to the rank of Captain and assigned to the Professional Standards Bureau – Western Region. In July 2017, he was transferred to Troop T Thruway - Zone 3 Headquarters in DeWitt as the Zone 3 Commander. In November of 2021, Lt. Colonel TenEyck was named the 31st Troop Commander of Troop D. In December of 2022, he was promoted to Staff Inspector – Central Region Office of the Professional Standards Bureau.

Lt. Colonel TenEyck grew up in Weedsport, NY, and is a 1993 graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego.

Lieutenant Colonel Jared W. Duffy currently holds the position of Assistant Deputy Superintendent – Chief of Staff, in which he oversees special projects on behalf of the Superintendent.

Lt. Colonel Duffy has been a member of the New York State Police since 2002, rising through the ranks while serving in Troop B, Troop F, Troop G and at the State Police Academy in Albany. His other assignments at Division Headquarters included serving as a Lieutenant in Planning and Research and as Staff Inspector – Executive Assistant to the Superintendent.

Lt. Col. Duffy holds master’s degrees in criminal justice with a concentration in systems, public administration with a concentration in ethical leadership, and general studies education, along with a bachelor's degree in biology.

Michael W. Deyo serves as Division Counsel.  In this position he manages the Office of Counsel, which consists of a team of Deputy and Assistant Counsels and Senior Attorneys who perform a broad range of legal services for the New York State Police.  Among other priorities, the Office of Counsel is responsible for providing legal and policy guidance on legislative and other legal developments; advising executive staff on evolving legal and policy issues; overseeing the defense of litigation involving the Division; conducting disciplinary proceedings; assisting in the delivery of recruit and in-service training programs; negotiating contracts and leases; and providing legal support to field operations and specialty unit functions.

Counsel Deyo joined the New York State Police in 2015 as an Assistant Counsel and was appointed Deputy Counsel in 2018, before his current appointment to Counsel in 2024.  He is a 2000 graduate of Utica College of Syracuse University and a 2007 graduate of Albany Law School.