Education
Graduate, FBI National Academy, 226th Session, Quantico
Master of Arts, Security Studies (Homeland Security & Defense), Naval Postgraduate School
Bachelor of Science, Law Enforcement Administration, University of New Haven
About Ronnell
Ronnell has been a Practitioner in Residence at the University of New Haven since 2018. He also serves as a consultant/advisor in the University’s Center for Advanced Policing. He has earned a reputation for thought leadership, committed to educating those interested in law enforcement, public safety, and emergency management.
He has served by appointment of Governor Ned Lamont as the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) since November 2023. In this role, he oversees and leads an agency of public servants totaling 950 troopers across 11 statewide troops and 550 civilians and public safety professionals—all dedicated to protecting and improving quality of life by providing a broad range of public safety services. Six fully accredited divisions comprise the agency: Connecticut State Police, Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Police Officers Standards and Training Council, Scientific Services, and Statewide Emergency Telecommunications.
Ronnell worked at Yale University for more than 27 years, most recently as Associate Vice President for Public Safety and Community Engagement. Earlier roles with Yale included Chief of Police, Director of Public Safety, and Assistant Chief of Police, providing visionary leadership and direction across all facets of public and campus safety programs at the University.
In Ronnell’s former position as Yale’s AVP for Public Safety and Community Engagement, he oversaw a Police Department comprising 95 sworn officers and a Public Safety Department with more than 100 staff as well as managed a $30M operating budget with oversight of 3 collective bargaining units. He was highly instrumental in significantly reducing crime on campus, attaining a year-over-year decline in crime every year since 2011 (with 1 exception) and reducing UCR crimes to their lowest levels since Yale began reporting in 1985. He spearheaded numerous programs supporting excellence in on-campus safety, community policing, and deep collaborations with stakeholders, leaders, and members of both the University and City of New Haven communities. At the same time, he ensured a leading-edge focus on efforts to thwart terrorism (including both bad actor/domestic concerns as well as international activities).
Ronnell’s expertise has been sought in numerous, high-profile scenarios—including consulting at Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC, following the 2022 shooting, and in Ferguson, MO, after the 2017 incident and contributing to the assessment of St. Louis County PD. He served as an Executive Fellow with the Police Foundation and is a past president of the South Central CT Chiefs of Police. Ronnell serves on the executive board for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives for Connecticut (NOBLE). He was named among the “Most Influential in Security” by Security magazine in annual recognition of those deemed to have made a significant difference in the security field. Former recipients include Senator Joseph Lieberman, former FBI Director Robert Mueller, and INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald Noble.