Joseph Mondello
Encyclopedia
Joseph Nestor Mondello (born 1938) is an American
politician
who served as Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee until September 2009. Mondello continues to serve as the head of the Nassau County Republican Committee, a post he has held since 1983. He is a lawyer with the firm of Berkman, Henoch, Peterson and Peddy of Garden City, New York
, and holds the rank of Major General
in the New York Guard
. Prior to being elected state chairman, he served as the head of the Nassau County
Republican Committee
for twenty three years. He is a former Town supervisor
of Hempstead, New York
, as well as an attorney, college professor, high school teacher and probation officer. He served as deputy commander of the New York Guard, and also served in the United States Army
, Navy
, and Air Force
.
on February 13, 1938 to Rosario (Joseph) Mondello and Rosario (Rose) Martín, who were of Sicilian and Puerto Rican descent respectively. Upon graduating high school, Mondello entered the Air National Guard
as an airman
from 1955 to 1956, and transferred to the United States Army
as Corporal
in the infantry
from 1956 to 1958. After being honorably discharged, Mondello attended Hofstra University
, and earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1962. After graduating, Mondello worked as a teacher in the East Meadow school system
and later became a probation officer in Nassau County. Chairman Mondello would later return to his alma mater to teach as an adjunct professor of government.
His activities as a probation officer spurred him to return to the study of law, and in 1966, Mondello entered the New England School of Law
. Mondello distinguished himself during his tenure in law school; he was named to law review after his first semester, an honor rarely accorded a freshman law student. He graduated in 1969, and after passing the bar examination
joined the Levittown
based law firm of Flaum, Imbarrato and Mondello.
Mondello then served in a host of legal positions, including counsel to the New York State Legislature, and an Assistant District Attorney in the Complaint, Felony and Trial Bureaus. He would later serve as a Special Agent
in the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence
. In 1975 he ran and was elected to the proposed Nassau County Legislature but because the electorate failed to approve a referendum setting up a legislative form of government in the County, never served in that capacity.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee until September 2009. Mondello continues to serve as the head of the Nassau County Republican Committee, a post he has held since 1983. He is a lawyer with the firm of Berkman, Henoch, Peterson and Peddy of Garden City, New York
Garden City, New York
Garden City is a village in the town of Hempstead in central Nassau County, New York, in the United States. It was founded by multi-millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart in 1869, and is located on Long Island, to the east of New York City, from mid-town Manhattan, and just south of the town of...
, and holds the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the New York Guard
New York Guard
The New York Guard is the State Defense Force of New York State. As of June 2008, the New York Guard, a recognized command under the New York State's Military law, has line-item funding in the state budget....
. Prior to being elected state chairman, he served as the head of the Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
Republican Committee
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
for twenty three years. He is a former Town supervisor
Town supervisor
Town Supervisor is an elective legislative position in New York towns. Supervisors sit on the town board, where they preside over town board meetings and vote on all matters with no more legal weight than that of any other board member .Towns may adopt local laws that allow them to provide for an...
of Hempstead, New York
Hempstead (village), New York
Hempstead is a village located in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 53,891 at the 2010 census.Hofstra University is located on the border between Hempstead and Uniondale.-Foundation:...
, as well as an attorney, college professor, high school teacher and probation officer. He served as deputy commander of the New York Guard, and also served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
Early career and background
Mondello was born in Brooklyn, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on February 13, 1938 to Rosario (Joseph) Mondello and Rosario (Rose) Martín, who were of Sicilian and Puerto Rican descent respectively. Upon graduating high school, Mondello entered the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
as an airman
Airman
An airman is a member of the air component of a nation's armed service. In the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force , it can also refer to a specific enlisted rank...
from 1955 to 1956, and transferred to the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
in the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
from 1956 to 1958. After being honorably discharged, Mondello attended Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
, and earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1962. After graduating, Mondello worked as a teacher in the East Meadow school system
East Meadow, New York
East Meadow is a hamlet in Nassau County , New York, United States. East Meadow is an unincorporated area in the Town of Hempstead....
and later became a probation officer in Nassau County. Chairman Mondello would later return to his alma mater to teach as an adjunct professor of government.
His activities as a probation officer spurred him to return to the study of law, and in 1966, Mondello entered the New England School of Law
New England School of Law
New England School of Law is a private law school in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1908 as a law school for women.-History:...
. Mondello distinguished himself during his tenure in law school; he was named to law review after his first semester, an honor rarely accorded a freshman law student. He graduated in 1969, and after passing the bar examination
Bar examination
A bar examination is an examination conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction.-Brazil:...
joined the Levittown
Levittown, New York
Levittown is a hamlet in the Town of Hempstead located on Long Island in Nassau County, New York. Levittown is midway between the villages of Hempstead and Farmingdale. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 51,881....
based law firm of Flaum, Imbarrato and Mondello.
Mondello then served in a host of legal positions, including counsel to the New York State Legislature, and an Assistant District Attorney in the Complaint, Felony and Trial Bureaus. He would later serve as a Special Agent
Special agent
Special agent is usually the title for a detective or investigator for a state, county, municipal, federal or tribal government. An agent is a worker for any federal agency, and a secret agent is one who works for an intelligence agency....
in the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence
Office of Naval Intelligence
The Office of Naval Intelligence was established in the United States Navy in 1882. ONI was established to "seek out and report" on the advancements in other nations' navies. Its headquarters are at the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland...
. In 1975 he ran and was elected to the proposed Nassau County Legislature but because the electorate failed to approve a referendum setting up a legislative form of government in the County, never served in that capacity.