The Long Island Power Authority Board of Trustees has appointed Carrie Meek Gallagher as Chief Executive Officer, effective July 7, 2025.
Gallagher brings over twenty-five years of leadership experience in public service, energy regulation, and environmental policy, with a deep focus on Long Island and New York State. She has over a decade of direct management and leadership experience in the utility sector.
Gallagher succeeds John Rhodes, who has served as LIPA’s Acting CEO since March 2024. The Board expressed its gratitude to Rhodes for his steady and principled leadership during a period of transition and his continued commitment to public service.
“Carrie Meek Gallagher is a seasoned utility executive with deep Long Island roots and a proven ability to lead complex organizations,” said Tracey Edwards, Chair of the LIPA Board of Trustees, said. “Her expertise in energy, environmental stewardship, and public policy will help LIPA deliver value to our customers. I thank John Rhodes for his service to LIPA’s customers and leadership over the past year and a half and look forward to welcoming Carrie to the LIPA team.”
Gallagher currently serves as the Director of the Long Island Office for the New York State Department of Public Service, where she oversees regulatory oversight of LIPA and PSEG Long Island. In that role, she has helped ensure affordable electric rates, system reliability, and alignment with New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Previously, she served as Acting Deputy Secretary for Energy and Environment in the Executive Chamber, where she managed government operations and policy for 12 agencies, over 5,000 employees, and a $2 billion budget, including oversight of LIPA, NYPA, NYSERDA, and DPS.
Gallagher also served as Incident Commander for New York’s COVID-19 testing operations at Stony Brook, showcasing her operational acumen and crisis management experience.
“It is an honor to be selected to lead LIPA at such a pivotal time,” she said. “I look forward to working alongside our staff, Board, labor partners, and stakeholders to continue strengthening our electric system. Together, we will deliver reliable, affordable, and clean energy for Long Island and the Rockaways while meeting the challenges of climate change and the expectations of the communities we serve.”
Her earlier roles include:
• Regional Director for Long Island at the Department of Environmental Conservation
• Chief Sustainability Officer at the Suffolk County Water Authority
• Commissioner of Environment and Energy for Suffolk County
• Deputy Director of Planning for Suffolk County
• Director of the Long Island Index Project at the Rauch Foundation
Gallagher holds a B.A. in Sustainable Development and Latin American Studies from Amherst College, an M.S. in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development from the University of Maryland, and an MBA in Management from Hofstra University.
