Henry X. Velez, CPA, CFP, CCSA, CITP
Henry X. Velez serves as the Interim Senior Vice President – Chief Operating Officer at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, where he leads the Division of Institutional Planning and Operations (IP&O). With more than three decades of experience in higher education leadership, Velez provides strategic oversight of the IP&O’s operations, systems, infrastructure, and services that support Rutgers’ academic, research, healthcare, and public service missions statewide.
Rutgers is New Jersey’s preeminent public research university, serving approximately 70,000 students and supported by more than 27,000 faculty and staff. In his role, Velez oversees a broad institutional portfolio that includes University Facilities, Business Services, Strategic Services, University Public Safety, Codes and Standards, and Planning, Development, and Design. Together, these functions ensure the effective stewardship, safety, and sustainability of the university’s physical and operational assets.
Velez directs a $650 million annual operating budget, a capital construction program exceeding $1.5 billion, and the stewardship of more than 1,000 buildings comprising over 30 million gross square feet, with university assets valued at more than $41 billion. Operationally, Velez is responsible for capital planning and construction, facilities and utilities operations, public safety and emergency management, environmental health and safety, codes & standards office, business and shared services, economic development, real estate, retail, student housing, faculty & staff housing, university golf course, transportation, parking, mail services, warehousing, records management, surplus and material services, fleet management, strategic services, employee services, employee relations, and communications.
Throughout his career at Rutgers, Velez has held a series of senior leadership roles, including Senior Internal Auditor, Director of Finance for Housing, Assistant Vice President for Budget and Administration – University Facilities, and Vice President of Business Services within IP&O. This progression has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of institutional operations, financial governance, and risk management.
A forward-looking and collaborative leader, Velez has advanced shared services and service level agreements to strengthen accountability and operational effectiveness across campuses. He holds multiple professional licenses and certifications, including Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, Certified Facilitator in Internal Control Self-Assessment, and Certified Information Technology Professional.
Velez is deeply committed to public higher education and is widely respected for building high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, and aligning operational excellence with Rutgers University’s strategic priorities.
