The son of working-class parents, William F. O’Connor III was born and raised in a small rural town in Upstate New York. He graduated from Columbia High School in East Greenbush, New York, and went on to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the building sciences, architecture, and business administration.
After attaining a license to practice architecture, his professional career took an unexpected turn when he discovered a passion for public leadership. Having had a childhood dream of designing beautiful buildings, he was initially disappointed and frustrated when the only opportunity that presented itself upon graduation was in the public sector. But it didn’t take long for him to realize that public service is an honorable profession and that public leadership is, indeed, a high calling. And so, the dream of building buildings was quickly supplanted by the passionate desire to lead people and make a significant difference in their lives and in the lives of those served.
Over more than forty-five years of public service, O’Connor led transformative change in almost every position he held, from first-line supervisor on up. As deputy commissioner in the New York State Office of General Services, he orchestrated what was literally a worst-to-first reinvention of the billion-dollar design and construction program. Later, in Arlington County, Virginia, he was instrumental in advancing a number of major initiatives, including the total reorganization of the Department of Environmental Services.
O’Connor’s passion for leadership also showed itself in a meaningful record of community service as member or chair of almost a dozen boards and organizations. Most notable among these were his record of accomplishment as chairman of the Board of Trustees at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York, and his distinguished eighteen years of leadership of the Board of Education in the Averill Park Central School District. All of this sharpened his understanding of public leadership and the key personal qualities that are required for transformational change.
A Vietnam veteran, O’Connor was a captain in the US Army Corps of Engineers. He was awarded both the Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star for meritorious service. An avid runner, he has completed seven marathons and numerous half marathons and 10K races. In addition to writing, he spends time as an abstract painter.
He currently lives in Milton, Georgia, with his wife, Anne. The couple has three grown children and 11 grandchildren.
