Deputy Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development Hugh B. Bailey died on December 22 after a long illness. He was 54.
“Hugh’s unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in public service have left an indelible mark on our state,” said Commissioner of Labor Rob Asaro-Angelo. “His leadership, compassion, and commitment to improving the lives of others were evident in every aspect of his work.”
Asaro-Angelo praised Bailey’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“From the earliest days of the pandemic, Hugh’s leadership was crucial in our department’s response in keeping our employees safe, reorganizing staff to triage an avalanche of unemployment claims and serving hundreds of thousands of out of work New Jerseyans through virtual workforce services,” he said.
Bailey joined the Murphy administration in 2018 and managed the Division of Finance and Accounting, the Office of Research and Information, and the Division of Workforce Development.
He had previously served as chief operating officer at Philadelphia Works and in Maryland as the Montgomery County workforce development director. Bailey began his public service career at the Corporation for National and Community Service in 1992, and became national program director at American Community Partnerships in 1998.
“His personal experience at the local, county, and state level in the past, helped guide his success at improving our services across these realms. Hugh was one of the smartest, most professional, and serious people I’ve had the pleasure of working with, but what always struck me the most was his infectious, youthful curiosity about the world around him.,” said Asaro-Angelo. “His love of sci-fi, and all other kinds of silliness, influenced his deliberative and welcoming style leading to complex and successful partnerships with diverse stakeholders across the state.”