Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, ’05

Garlin Gilchrist has dedicated his career to solving problems. An engineer by training, he employs thoughtful innovation, progressive reform, and efficient modernization of policies and programs to make the work better for hardworking families. From spearheading campaigns for equality and justice to harnessing technology to solve real problems, his focus remains on serving the public and getting things done.

He brings a lifetime of experience to the task. He received his first computer at age five and at age 16 set up a technology lab in a Detroit community recreation center using computers he himself built. Lt. Governor Gilchrist studied computer engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan, graduating with honors. He later had a successful career as a software engineer at Microsoft, helping to build SharePoint into the fastest growing product in the company’s history.

Lt. Governor Gilchrist spent the next several years of his career as a social entrepreneur and community organizer helping people in communities across the United States realize their full economic and political potential. Upon returning home to Detroit, Lt. Governor Gilchrist worked in local government to build systems that made the government more responsive, transparent, and accountable to city residents. This experience prepared him for a key priority—bringing Michigan’s state government fully into the twenty-first century on every level.

As part of the Whitmer Administration, Lt. Governor Gilchrist has sought to address injustice and inequity across the state. From co-chairing the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration to helming the Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, he has led and supported actions that saved lives and protected our most vulnerable populations. Lt. Governor Gilchrist’s approach to addressing these disparities is deeply rooted in fact-based practices, science, and connecting with individuals across Michigan.

Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist and his wife, Ellen, reside in Detroit where they are raising their children.