After combat service as a naval officer in Vietnam, Mr. Larocca, an attorney, held staff positions in the U.S. House of Representatives and the National Commission on Water Quality. From 1977 to 1982, he was New York's first Commissioner of Energy, where he led the development of the New York State Energy Master Plan. From 1983 to 1985 Mr. Larocca was Commissioner of Transportation, leading the Rebuilding New York program. Earlier, he served as Deputy Secretary to the Governor of New York and Director of the NYS Office of Federal Affairs.
Mr. Larocca is a Distinguished Professor in Public Policy at Long Island University (LIU). During the academic year 2001-2002, he served as Dean of the College at LIU Southampton. From 2006 to 2007 he served as Chairman of the Long Island Regional Planning Board. He is a past Chairman of the Board of Touro Law School, and a past member of the Stony Brook University Council. From 1985-1993, Mr. Larocca served as President of the Long Island Association, the region’s largest business and civic organization.
James Larocca is a former Director of KeySpan Energy Company and its predecessor, Brooklyn Union Gas, where he served on the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees. He was a Director of European American Bank for several years before its sale to Citibank, and served on the bank's Audit and Community Redevelopment Committees. He also served as Director of ContiFinancial Corporation (Chair, Independent Directors Committee), and sat on regional boards of Barclays Bank and Bank of New York. For many years, Mr. Larocca was a Trustee of the New York Power Authority.
Mr. Larocca received his B.A. from Hofstra University, his J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University, and a D.H.L. (H.C.) from Hofstra University.
Mr. Larocca and his wife have three grown children and reside in Sag Harbor on Long Island’s East End.
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