Bill Text: VA HJR297 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending Joseph F. Damico.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-06 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ297ER) [HJR297 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HJR297-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Joseph F. Damico, a devoted and effective public servant, retired as the director of the Department of General Services on January 1, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Joe Damico served the Commonwealth for nearly 30 years, first with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, then as deputy director of the Department of General Services for 16 years; and
WHEREAS, Governor Ralph Northam appointed Joe Damico as director of the Department of General Services (DGS) in 2018 and he was reappointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin in 2022; and
WHEREAS, as director of DGS, Joe Damico managed more than 700 authorized employees and oversaw an annual budget of approximately $270 million, with an additional approximately $500 million in capital outlay projects; and
WHEREAS, Joe Damico successfully balanced the agency's wide scope of diverse, statewide responsibilities, including management of Virginia's public health and environmental laboratory, procurement of non-technology goods and services, capital outlay management, construction management, and real estate; management and maintenance of Capitol Square grounds and buildings, fleet management, the state and federal surplus property programs, and mail delivery at the seat of state government; and
WHEREAS, Joe Damico oversaw the transformation of Capitol Square, including construction of the new General Assembly Building, repairs to the Virginia State Capitol, enhancements to the grounds around the capitol building, renovation of Reid's Row, and renovation of Old City Hall, a National Historic Landmark; and
WHEREAS, Joe Damico guided the transformation of state procurement from a paper process to an electronic process, using the nationally acclaimed e-procurement platform, eVA, as well as overseeing the transition to a new electronic platform in 2022; and
WHEREAS, among other accomplishments while at DGS, Joe Damico helped manage centralization of real estate operations for the Commonwealth, the establishment of a transparent and formal statewide capital outlay budgeting and execution process, the implementation of a public-private partnership to enhance fleet vehicle maintenance for state government drivers, and the expansion of critical testing services at the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, including 365-day-a-year testing for potentially deadly disorders in newborns and the rise of the lab's prominence in the field of genomics; and
WHEREAS, Joe Damico previously served his country in the military for nearly 10 years on both active duty and in the reserves, achieving the rank of captain; while stationed in Nuremburg, Germany with the United States Army Medical Service Corps, he prepared a medical hold facility to accept wounded troops during the first Gulf War; and
WHEREAS, Joe Damico was born in Virginia and holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and computer science from Longwood University, a master of public administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and a master's degree in health administration from the VCU School of Medicine; he is also a graduate of the Virginia Executive Institute; and
WHEREAS, Joe Damico served on the board and as vice president of the National Association of State Chief Administrators (NASCA) and is a recipient of the prestigious 2021 Ray Walton Leadership Award, bestowed by NASCA to recognize outstanding leadership and commitment to state government operations; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Joseph F. Damico on the occasion of his retirement as director of the Department of General Services; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Joseph F. Damico as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration and gratitude for his loyal and committed service to the Commonwealth and best wishes for a happy retirement.
