Dale Caldwell

Dale Gilbert Caldwell (born July 6, 1960) is an American former academic administrator, author, and religious leader serving as the fourth lieutenant governor and 35th secretary of state of New Jersey since 2026. A member of the Democratic Party, Caldwell is the first male to serve as the state's lieutenant governor. He previously served as president of Centenary University from 2023 to 2025, and was the university's first black president. A former president of the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey (2001–2024), Caldwell was also the founding president of the College Achieve of Greater Asbury Park Charter School and served as a member of the New Brunswick Board of Education from 1998 to 2024. He is also the pastor of Covenant United Methodist Church in Plainfield, New Jersey.