Fernando Camacho joined the Department of Sanitation as its Director of Equal Employment Opportunity in September of 1984. Fernando has provided the Department's Commissioners with the necessary information and support to maintain the Department's compliance with City mandates that ensure equality of opportunity for all.

In addition to heading the unit which accepts and investigates complaints of discrimination from employees as well as applicants to the Department, Director Camacho sits on the evaluation review Board and the Promotions review Board. He monitors all employment actions including hiring practices, sick leave policies, terminations and any other activities that may impact an individual's fair and equitable treatment in the workplace. Fernando has been instrumental in developing the Department's policies on an equal opportunity, sexual harassment prevention and the rights of people with disabilities.

Director Camacho has been responsible for guiding the Department's EEO program during the critical years when women first joined the Department as sanitation workers. He has headed major recruitment campaigns over the years to bring more minorities and females into the sanitation workforce. Camacho has been instrumental in bringing about a greater diversity within the Department, which is truly representative of the broad ethnic cross-section of this City. If asked what has made the Department's EEO program successful, Camacho is quick to say, "The success of the Department of Sanitation's EEO program can be attributed to the support of our Commissioner and our Deputy Commissioners as well as to the hard work of our uniformed and civilian managers. These are the people that set the tone and give direction and are ultimately responsible for ensuring equality of opportunity."

Mr. Camacho, who has a B.A. in Public Health Administration, was the Chief Executive Officer from 1978-1982 of the national Puerto Rican Forum, a national multimillion dollar training, employment and lobbying organization. From 1982-1994, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Gems International, a multinational corporation involved in the mining, manufacturing and sales of precious stones. Mr. Camacho's professional background includes many years of government service that include being Health Analyst for the New York State senate's Democratic leadership, and Senior Legislative Analyst for the Federal and State relations Office within the New York City Office of Management and Budget.