Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill announced Tuesday a significant restructuring of state leadership, appointing Kellie Doucette to serve as New Jersey’s first-ever chief operating officer (COO).
This newly created cabinet-level position is designed to drive efficiency, transparency, and accountability across all departments of the state government.
As COO, Doucette will be tasked with overseeing day-to-day operations and leading transformation initiatives within the executive branch. The role is central to Sherrill’s pledge to modernize and streamline Trenton’s bureaucratic machinery.
“Kellie Doucette has spent her career focused on bringing people together, solving tough problems, and making organizations work better for the people they serve,” Sherrill said in a statement. “As New Jersey’s first Chief Operating Officer, Kellie will help us build a dynamic government that focuses relentlessly on getting results—starting with our priority of making life more affordable for the people of New Jersey.”
Doucette brings extensive experience to the role, currently serving as the Executive Director of the Sherrill Gubernatorial Transition team. A Harvard graduate with a degree in economics, she previously served as District Director for Sherrill’s congressional office from 2019 to 2024 and has held senior leadership roles in both the public and private sectors.
