(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he will name Deputy Commissioner Sharonda Carlos to serve as interim commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Correction effective May 1, 2026, following the impending retirement of Commissioner Angel Quiros from the state agency.
“Deputy Commissioner Carlos has a strong record of direct, hands-on service working within Connecticut’s correctional facilities, including years of experience as a substance abuse counselor providing support to offenders, and as a warden, in addition to her current role as deputy commissioner,” Governor Lamont said. “She is already well-known by the department’s many staff and correction officers, as well as those in the community who frequently partner with the agency. She has the experience and knowledge that will enable her to hit the ground running in this critical public safety position, and I thank her for accepting this opportunity.”
“I thank Governor Ned Lamont for the trust and opportunity to serve and lead the correctional professionals that provide public safety within the Department of Correction,” Deputy Commissioner Carlos said. “My commitment to staff training and development will guide our efforts to enhance progressive correctional practices while fostering an environment of safety, security, and dignity. Creating a culture that provides accountability and transparency both internally and externally will make it possible for the Connecticut DOC to be a leader in the field of corrections. I look forward to continued collaboration with our community stakeholders and partners as we strive to enhance re-entry efforts and reduce recidivism.”
Deputy Commissioner Carlos has worked at the Connecticut Department of Correction since the mid-2000s, including in roles as a substance abuse counselor, counselor supervisor, deputy warden, warden, and district administrator. In December 2020, she was appointed as the agency’s deputy commissioner of administration in a role that requires her to oversee its administrative functions and operations within the state’s correctional facilities. In recent years, she has stepped in several times to serve as acting commissioner when it has been needed.
Prior to joining the Connecticut Department of Correction, Deputy Commissioner Carlos worked as a substance abuse counselor for the Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency in Lebanon, Connecticut.
She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of New Haven, Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, and a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from Mitchell College. Additionally, she received certification from the Connecticut Department of Public Health as an alcohol and drug counselor. She is a licensed minister within her local church.