Brendan M. Wheeler
Elections Program Manager @State of Connecticut
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WORK HISTORY
Elections Program Manager @State of Connecticut
Hartford, CT, US
The Connecticut Office of the Secretary of the State serves as the official repository of state records and administers elections, business filings, and authentication services. The Legislation and Election Administration Division oversees implementation of state and federal election laws across Connecticut\'s 169 municipalities.Key Responsibilities: Municipal Election Support & Compliance – Provide technical guidance and regulatory interpretation to local election officials, ensuring proper administration of elections, primaries, and nominating procedures in compliance with state and federal law. Statewide Election Systems Management – Oversee implementation and maintenance of federally mandated election systems and equipment; design and deliver comprehensive training programs for registrars of voters, town clerks, and election officials. Program Portfolio Management – Direct multiple concurrent election administration projects in coordination with Division leadership. Manage implementation of the Translation Advisory Committee to review Spanish-language election materials for municipalities, including volunteer recruitment, expedited review procedures, and quality assurance processes. Oversee statewide Election Moderator Program, including training curriculum development, certification processes, and ongoing support for poll workers across Connecticut. Policy Development & Legislative Implementation – Lead development of new election programs and procedures from concept through legislative enactment and operational deployment; conduct post-election evaluations and contribute policy recommendations that advance accessible, secure, and inclusive democratic participation.
EDUCATION
U.S. Naval War College
Master’s Degree, National Security and Strategic Studies
University of Vermont
Bachelor’s Degree, History and Political Science
ABOUT BRENDAN M. WHEELER
I build systems for crisis conditions — not ideal ones.Twenty-five years of managing high-stakes programs across Iraq, Ethiopia, Egypt, Libya, Jordan, and Rwanda taught me that democracy programs fail at the implementation layer: poor contract management, inadequate training, and systems designed for smooth conditions that collapse under pressure.Now I bring that lens home. As Elections Program Manager at the Connecticut Office of the Secretary of the State, I guide election officials across 169 municipalities, manage vendor partnerships and statewide systems, and lead the Translation Advisory Committee — ensuring Connecticut\'s elections hold up when it matters most.What I\'ve built:Transformed a grassroots Libyan peace initiative into a $200M, 10-year stabilization programDirected election observation, fielding 215 observers across Egypt\'s constitutional transitionRestructured a $58M underperforming federal contract — 31% overhead reduction,$10M reallocated to resultsManaged portfolios up to $250M across six countries and the full federal acquisition lifecycleBackground: 17 years as a USAID Foreign Service Officer | Earlier: economic adviser in Iraq, six years on Capitol Hill, including Senate Appropriations CommitteeCurrently focused on: AI applications for election administration, election security technology, and strategic advisory roles connecting international governance best practices to domestic democratic challenges.Connecticut native. Back home. Cycling every chance I get.Connect: b••••••••@gmail.com
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