This week’s NYSAPCSO Feature Friday highlights the inspiring career and personal journey of Langdon Chapman, Commissioner of Human Resources in Orange County. A dedicated public servant with a strong legal background, Langdon’s path reflects a commitment to continuous growth, innovation, and integrity.

Langdon has been married for over 25 years and is the proud father of two sons, ages 23 and 20. A graduate of Siena College, he earned his law degree from Western New England Law School while working full-time—a testament to his drive and discipline. He began practicing law in 2000 and spent two decades in the New York State Senate, culminating in his role as Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee. During much of that time, he also ran a private law practice before transitioning to county government in 2014.

After serving more than eight years as Orange County Attorney, Langdon was appointed Commissioner of Human Resources in April 2022. In that role, he led a landmark initiative in 2023—a comprehensive salary study that addressed long-standing pay inequities and restructured the county’s entire salary system. This effort not only helped modernize compensation practices but also resulted in the successful settlement of all union contracts. Along the way, Langdon earned his LLM from Albany Law School, focusing on human resources, and achieved SHRM-SCP certification, underscoring his dedication to professional excellence.

Langdon’s community involvement spans decades and includes roles as a town councilman, scout troop merit badge counselor, youth sports coach, and United Way volunteer. These efforts reflect his lifelong belief in civic engagement and mentorship.

His career has taught him the value of empathy, decisiveness, and ethical leadership. “You are talking about someone’s career, so it really matters to them,” he says. “Be empathetic—but also know when enough is enough.” He credits his team and the broader NYSAPCSO network with keeping him grounded and informed, adding, “If you make a mistake, fix it. There is only one thing worse than being wrong: staying wrong.”

When asked what he’d change in civil service, Langdon advocates for faster exam grading and continued innovation. He praises the responsiveness of the State Civil Service team and supports the move to T&E evaluation for open-competitive titles, saying, “I will take innovation with its accompanying bumps over stagnation anytime.”

Outside of work, Langdon is an endurance athlete who turned to running after a serious health scare at age 40. Since then, he’s completed over 50 marathons and four full Ironman triathlons. He and his wife share a love of historic travel, and together with their sons, have visited all 50 states and every U.S. Presidential Library. Their current goal? All seven continents.

Langdon Chapman exemplifies leadership through action, humility, and vision—qualities that continue to elevate the work of public service across New York State!