Melissa McCaw

Adjunct Professor (SPP) and Finance Director, Town of East Hartford

School of Public Policy

Education

B.A., Wesleyan University
M.P.A., University of Connecticut

Professional Experience

Melissa N. McCaw is currently the Finance Director for the Town of East Hartford. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Wesleyan University and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Finance & Budgeting from the University of Connecticut. McCaw is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of executive budgeting, finance, operations and strategic planning experience in government and higher education organizations.

Melissa’s career background includes the appointment by Governor Ned Lamont to serve as the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, also known as the CT Budget Chief, from 2019 to 2022. During this service period, she managed a State budget of more than $20 billion and led the reformation of the finances for the State of Connecticut, bringing Connecticut from fiscal crisis to fiscal strength. McCaw previously served as the Chief Financial Officer and the Director of Budget, Management & Grants for the City of Hartford for 3 years overseeing both the Budget and Finance functions, with a general fund budget of $570 million and an all funds budget in excess of $1 billion. McCaw led the City through 3 years of intensive restructuring to avert bankruptcy. Prior to this, McCaw served as the Budget Director at the University of Hartford for nearly seven years. McCaw began her career at OPM as a Budget Specialist within the Health and Human Service and General Government focus areas of the Budget and Financial Management division for nearly eight years. McCaw specializes in fiscal sustainability, economic growth and operational strength that balances the needs of constituents and long-term goals with positive financial stewardship.