The longtime director of Howard County's Office on Aging will be promoted by County Executive Ken Ulman on Nov. 19, Ulman announced yesterday.

Phyllis Madachy, a county employee since 1981 and director of programs for seniors since 1995, will become deputy chief administrative officer under Lonnie Robbins, the county's top appointed official.

The job, which pays $114,858, has been vacant since Robbins was promoted from the position to become the chief administrative officer after Ulman took office in December. Madachy is paid $98,134 in her current job; those duties will be temporarily performed by Susan Rosenbaum, Madachy's supervisor as director of the Department of Citizens Services.

The Department of County Administration supervises day-to-day operation of county government, including the budget office, purchasing, public information, human resources, human rights, labor relations, workforce development, risk management and central services.

"Phyllis is a strong and capable manager," Robbins said in a news release.

Ulman noted in the release Madachy's experience in running programs and managing people and said, "I can't think of anyone better suited for this deputy position than Phyllis Madachy."

Said Madachy in a prepared statement: "This new role gives me a chance to apply those experiences on a broader scale."