NASCA Press Release: Michelle Gilman Announced as 2025 National Ray Walton Leadership Award Recipient
For Immediate Release
October 27, 2025
Contact: Elizabeth Whitehouse, Executive Director, executivedirector@nasca.org
NASCA Press Release: Michelle Gilman Announced as 2025 National Ray Walton Leadership Award Recipient
Hartford, CT — The National Association of State Chief Administrators is proud to announce Michelle Gilman, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS), as the recipient of the NASCA 2025 National Ray Walton Leadership Award.
In honor of Past NASCA President Ray Walton, this award recognizes State Chief Administrators (CAOs) for their passion, outstanding service, and commitment to state government operations.
From strategically stabilizing Connecticut’s workforce amid post-pandemic challenges and a major retirement wave to overseeing the successful implementation of a two-round HVAC indoor air quality grant program that awarded over $175 million to 150+ schools for system installations, Gilman’s leadership has revolutionized Connecticut’s government operations. Gilman also played an instrumental role in overseeing several major construction projects across the state, Connecticut’s digital government program, and the complex transition of responsibilities and assets from the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) Dissolution Authority to DAS.
“Michelle Gilman is the epitome of exceptional leadership,” said NASCA Executive Director Elizabeth Whitehouse. “She is a true public servant, and her clear vision, passion, and dedication to operational excellence have set a national standard for what it means to serve with purpose. Commissioner Gilman leads with unwavering commitment to the people of Connecticut. NASCA is honored to recognize her contributions with the 2025 National Ray Walton Leadership Award.”
Upon nominating Gilman, Leigh Appleby, Director of Communications at the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services, commended Gilman’s exceptional leadership.
“It is truly difficult to capture the breadth and impact of Commissioner Gilman’s work in the space provided. What is clear to those of us who work alongside her every day is that she embodies the spirit of the Ray Walton Leadership Award: vision, passion, and unwavering commitment to making government work better for its people.”
Appleby continued, “Beyond her measurable accomplishments, Michelle Gilman cares deeply—about her staff, about her colleagues, and about the people government serves. Her leadership is grounded not just in results, but in humanity.”
Since her appointment as Commissioner of the DAS in 2022, Gilman’s dedication, effectiveness, and leadership have helped build a better tomorrow for Connecticut. Commissioner Gilman’s unwavering commitment to upholding the values of NASCA and Ray Walton make her the ideal recipient of the NASCA 2025 National Ray Walton Leadership Award.
Founded in 1976, NASCA is the nation’s only nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving chief administrative officers or CAOs. NASCA provides a forum for state chief administrative officers to exchange information and learn new ideas from each other and private sector partners. NASCA engages states in transforming government operations through shared knowledge, operational excellence, and thought leadership.
For more information on NASCA, please visit NASCA.org.
