Mayor Nominates Justin McCarthy As Next Chief Administrative Officer

NEW HAVEN, CT — Monday, Mayor Justin Elicker announced Justin McCarthy as his nominee to serve as the next Chief Administrative Officer, "one of the most important positions in city government," overseeing myriad departments and hundreds of employees."

McCarthy will replace Regina Rush-Kittle who left city government in November 2024.

The CAO is responsible for overseeing all the city’s public safety agencies and several other departments, divisions and offices, including: the Office of Emergency Management, Fire Department, Police Department, Public Safety Communications Department (911 Call Center), Engineering, Human Resources, Parks, and Public Works departments.

"Justin McCarthy has served on the front lines of city government and in senior municipal leadership positions with excellence and distinction," Elicker said. "He knows New Haven, he knows city government, and I’m confident he will be an outstanding Chief Administrative Officer."

McCarthy’s first day will be January 21st. During the interim period between Rush-Kittle’s departure and McCarthy’s start, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Rebecca Bombero has assumed the duties of Chief Administrative Officer. Upon McCarthy’s appointment, Bombero will maintain her position as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer. McCarthy’s nomination as CAO is subject to final confirmation by the New Haven Board of Alders within 180 days of his appointment, as required by the City Charter.

“I am excited to return to the City of New Haven in this new capacity and to rejoin the ranks of its dedicated first responders and civil servants in providing a high level of government services to the residents of New Haven. Nearly my entire career in the fire service has been dedicated to serving the New Haven community, and I look forward to taking on this new challenge as Chief Administrative Officer and working with our city departments to help keep our residents safe, our communities strong, our quality of life high, and our government operations running effectively and efficiently,” McCarthy is quoted as saying.

According to Elicker, "McCarthy brings to the position an in-depth knowledge of municipal government and a proven track record of administrative leadership and emergency incident command experience."

McCarthy joined the New Haven Fire Department in 2008 and worked his way up the ranks to serve as Assistant Fire Chief of Administration in January 2021, a post he held through April 2023. As Assistant Fire Chief of Administration, McCarthy oversaw the department’s budget, personnel matters, labor relations, and internal communications, among other areas of responsibility – working in coordination and cross-functionally with other city departments. Subsequently, McCarthy has been serving as Assistant Fire Chief for the Greenwich Fire Department.

Since 2011, McCarthy has also been an adjunct professor at the University of New Haven, instructing students and supporting the Fire Science program within the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences. A well-respected and sought-after expert on matters of fire service and leadership, McCarthy has authored multiple articles, presented at several conferences, and served as a program leader and instructor at the Connecticut Regional Fire School.

McCarthy has also received numerous awards and recognition for his outstanding public service: the New Haven Fire Department’s Medal of Merit; the Quinnipiac School of Law Distinguished Scholar Award; and Certificates of Special Recognition from Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and Senator Richard Blumenthal, among other accolades.

McCarthy received his Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science and Arson Investigation from the University of New Haven and his Juris Doctorate from Quinnipiac University School of Law. McCarthy is married to his wife Sara and they have a newborn daughter named Eloise.