RIVERHEAD  - Gregory Blass of Jamesport is now the new Suffolk County Social Services commissioner. The county legislature has approved County Executive Steven Levy’s nominee for the post.

Blass, who was named chief deputy commissioner of the department in 2007, will oversee a department with more than 1,700 staff responsible for managing a wide range of human service assistance programs including Medicaid, Food Stamps, HEAP, Temporary Assistance, Child Protective Services and Foster Care services.

In 1995, Blass was elected New York State Family Court Judge, presiding over one of the few all-purpose parts in family court which included custody, orders of protection, child support, child neglect, termination of parental rights, juvenile delinquency and juvenile drug court. Blass also served as Supervising Judge for the Riverhead Family Court parts.