Germain Difo

Deputy Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives

Germain Difo leads the development of OGS' strategic direction, manages the development and implementation of the agency's strategic plan, and facilitates major initiatives across divisions to advance strategic priorities. Germain joined OGS from the NYC Department of Buildings, where he served as Executive Director for Risk Management. In that capacity, Germain built a comprehensive, agency-wide risk management program for the agency, which regulates the safe and lawful use of more than 1 million buildings and over 40,000 active construction sites under its jurisdiction. He created and headed the Department of Building's first-ever risk analysis and compliance unit, a team of analysts that performs in-depth subject matter research and statistical analysis on Building Department data to proactively identify internal control gaps and vulnerabilities. He also served as the chief policy advisor to the Commissioner on matters related to internal control monitoring, compliance with internal and external regulations and mandates, and risk mitigation policy and program development. Germain's career has spanned investigative review, risk, oversight, and policy analysis at the NYC Department of Correction, American Security Project, and NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board.

Germain received his BA from the University of Chicago and his MA from Georgetown University.