The University of Connecticut announced a change in leadership in Facilities Operations on Feb. 24. Eric Kruger has been named as the new vice president of facility services and university planning.
Kruger has been the vice president of facilities development and operations at UConn Health since March 2022, according to an article by UConn Today. The position is currently held by Stanley L. Nolan, until Kruger assumes his new position on March 21.
The Facilities Operations department is in control of campus functions such as utilities, cleaning and landscaping, transportation, parking and more, according to their website.
Before working at UConn, Kruger was a Senior Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy, according to his LinkedIn. He later moved to Eversource where he worked as a manager.
“I want to make sure we continue to provide excellent stewardship of our campuses and support the needs of the UConn Community for years to come,” Kruger said in an email.
Kruger also placed an emphasis on updating the way the Facilities Operations department is running.
“The University’s Master Plan was initially created in 2015 and much has changed since then,” Kruger wrote. “It’s time to conduct a formal update of the plan to incorporate many of the new challenges and opportunities we will face over the next ten years so we can continue to meet the needs of future Huskies.”
Kruger oversaw operations at the Hartford, Stamford, Avery Point and Waterbury campuses, as well as the School of Law, according to a UConn Today article by University Spokesperson Stephanie Reitz. The article emphasized his commitment to “responsiveness, transparency, and communications.”
“I plan to meet with many of the key leaders of the UConn community to get an idea of their needs and concerns relating to facilities maintenance, use of space, and their future growth expectations,” he said in his email.
UConn’s Executive Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Jeffrey Geoghegan, expressed his support for Kruger in the article.
“Eric’s extensive knowledge of the University and its myriad operations will enable him to quickly and smoothly transition into his new role, which will greatly benefit our campus communities,” Geoghegan said. “We are fortunate to have someone in this position with Eric’s expertise, vision, and proven track record of dedication to UConn.”