Connecticut COO Josh Geballe to depart for Yale provost role

Connecticut Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe on Tuesday announced plans to depart state government for what he called a “dream job” as a senior associate provost at Yale University, handing over the reins of the state’s IT modernization efforts to deputy COO Michelle Gilman.

Josh Geballe (LinkedIn)

Geballe, a graduate of the New Haven school, joined Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration in 2019 as commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services after a career as an IBM executive and tech entrepreneur. He was later named the state’s COO in 2020, leading its response to COVID-19.

As administrative services commissioner, Geballe oversaw all IT provisions in the state. He was charged with modernizing the state’s legacy IT infrastructure, including upgrading technology such as personnel systems and online portals at the Department of Motor Vehicles. He was also responsible for developing a long-term plan for IT consolidation and modernization.

“I’ve leaned heavily on Josh over recent years to lead major initiatives, ranging from Covid response to making govt more accessible through technology,” Lamont tweeted on Tuesday. “Yale is gaining a great leader & despite that he’s taking on new work, his service will still benefit our state and communities.”

Lamont last year credited Geballe with assisting legislation that called for the development of a “fully integrated statewide information services and telecommunication system,” as well as new standards for digital identity verification and for identifying all state agency technology projects. Geballe and Lamont also jointly announced the state’s plans to centralize IT within a new agency last March, kicking off what the state then said would be a yearlong consolidation process.

Geballe is slated to begin as Yale’s senior associate provost for entrepreneurship and innovation on Feb. 14, according to Yale’s website.