Congrats! State Emergency Management Director retires after 45 years of working in public safety

VESTAL (WBNG) -- After 45 years working in public safety, Regional Director of NYS Emergency Management Tom McCartney is finally ready to call it a career and announced his retirement Wednesday.

McCartney originally wanted to pursue a career as a police officer, but had a chance to work for IBM in 1979, which set him on the path that would become the rest of his working life.

“It was twice the pay of a state trooper in 79′ and a lot of friends that were troopers said [it was a] good move and good corporation,” said McCartney.

McCartney ended up working for IBM for 24 years in security and emergency services. From there, he would become Director of Safety for SUNY Broome and then landed a job for New York State as a Fire Safety Rep in 2003 until his retirement.

The main thing that has kept him going after all these years, is a commitment to keeping the public safe, he said.

“It was a form of public safety, but working for the private sector, everything we did was to protect people, the environment and property,” said McCartney. “And it’s time to start doing things that are important to me for personal.”

Finally able to sit back and enjoy life, McCartney already has his retirement plans mapped out starting next week with his wife of 35 years.

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