Robert J. Gaffney (born February 26, 1944) was the sixth County Executive of Suffolk County, New York. First elected in 1991, he served through 2003. He was president of Dowling College from 2006 to 2010. In 2004, he was elected a Trustee of Dowling College. He became President of Dowling College on October 1, 2006. He has also served on the boards or committees of Central Suffolk Hospital and the Long Island Housing Partnership. In 2005, Gaffney was appointed by Governor George Pataki to the New York State Commission on Healthcare Facilities in the 21st Century.