CT legislature endorses economic development commissioner

The state Department of Economic and Community Development officially has a new commissioner — and he’s been on the job since November.

In a widely expected endorsement, Daniel O’Keefe was confirmed Monday as DECD commissioner by the General Assembly. O’Keefe had served as commissionerdesignate since he was appointed to the position last November by Gov. Ned Lamont. O’Keefe joined Lamont’s administration last July, when he was named the state’s first chief innovation officer.

“It was a really special moment for me,” O’Keefe said in a social media post Monday. “While I have been excited about the prospects for this role, the confirmation process takes time (as it should), and I’ll confess it’s a bit nerve wracking to sit waiting while a large contingent evaluates your background and prospects (as they should). But if you’ll give me a moment of self-indulgent pride, I’m excited that I was approved unanimously by both the Executive Nominations Committee and the General Assembly.”

O’Keefe’s nomination as DECD head was approved this week by the state legislature. He will earn $215,000 a year in salary in his new role overseeing a department with

140 employees.

O’Keefe, who was a technology investor for 25 years before joining the state government, is the third DECD commissioner appointed by Lamont. He succeeds the previous commissioner Alexandra Daum, who left earlier this year after about a year in the position and nearly four years at DECD, to take a position at Yale University. Daum succeeded David Lehman, a former Goldman Sachs executive, who served as commissioner from the beginning of Lamont’s first term, in early 2019, until late 2022.

“Dan’s background helping innovative companies grow will be a huge asset to our administration and the state as a whole,” Lamont said when he announced his appointment of O’Keefe as commissioner. “He has a deep understanding of how to foster an environment that supports economic about growth. His insights and expertise will ensure we are making the right strategic decisions when it comes to strengthening our competitive position, both now and in the future.”

Connecticut’s economy has struggled to grow since the Great Recession, as highlighted by it having fewer jobs today than it did in March 2008. But O’Keefe said that he has been encouraged by the state’s economic recovery since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think Connecticut is showing the rest of the country that leadership can come from the center,” O’Keefe added in his post. “While the rest of the country seems engaged in the next headline from the far left or the far right, we are showing that you can lead from the center with quiet excellence. That we can protect our progressive values while managing our fiscal affairs responsibly,

and have the seventh-fastest growing economy in the country (in terms of real GDP growth from 2021 to 2022) as the result. Let everyone else tend to their distractions, we are just going to demonstrate how you get things done.”

Dan Haar/Hearst CT Media Daniel O’Keefe was confirmed by the General Assembly as the new commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development on Monday.