FAIRFIELD — Sacred Heart University has named former Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamara executive director of community & government relations, effective March 23.
MacNamara started his career at the Fairfield Police Department as a patrol officer in 1988 and became chief of police in 2010. He retired from his role as police chief and joined SHU in 2018. Since then, he has served as SHU’s executive director of public safety and government affairs, leading campus safety efforts while strengthening the university’s engagement with government partners.
In his new role, he will focus on expanding the relationships he forged for Sacred Heart and advancing SHU’s external engagement strategy.
“Gary (MacNamara) has been a trusted leader in the community for many years, and his ability to build strong relationships has already made a meaningful impact on the University,” said Michael Iannazzi, senior vice president for administration at the university. “This transition allows him to fully focus on that work and continue to expand our government and community relationships in ways that support our mission and our region.”
He will serve as the university’s primary liaison to local, state and federal officials, as well as community organizations across the region. He will lead legislative advocacy, policy monitoring and public funding initiatives while continuing to build relationships with municipal leaders, nonprofit and faith-based organizations.
MacNamara will also advise university leadership on external relations strategy, represent Sacred Heart in key forums and support the University’s ongoing commitment to civic engagement and community impact.
“My top priority is to listen and learn about all the strong relationships Sacred Heart University has across our region,” MacNamara said. “I hope to build on that foundation and continue engaging local, state and federal partners to understand their priorities, share our priorities and collaborate to align our institutional goals with community needs. I also want to ensure our partnerships in areas such as workforce development, education and economic impact are meaningful and mutually beneficial.”
He believes his experience as police chief taught him the importance of communication, collaboration and credibility in building trust and achieving shared goals.
MacNamara has a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement and Master’s Degree in Public Administration. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and FBI LEEDS Training 61st session. He has been an Adjunct Professor in the areas of public safety, criminal justice, risk management, and leadership.
