New Jersey Coalition of Treatment Providers Appoints Dennis E. González as Senior Advisor

Newark, New Jersey — The New Jersey Coalition of Treatment Providers (NJCTP) has announced the appointment of Dennis E. González as Senior Advisor, a move that signals a substantive expansion of the organization’s leadership capacity at a pivotal moment for public health and behavioral health systems across the state.

Mr. González joins the Coalition with more than thirty years of distinguished service spanning federal, state, and community-based leadership. His career has been defined by a sustained commitment to advancing health equity, reinforcing public health infrastructure, and guiding coordinated responses to complex and large-scale health crises.

Most notably, Mr. González served as Acting Regional Director for Region 2 at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he oversaw federal public health initiatives across New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In this role, he was instrumental in leading intergovernmental coordination efforts during some of the most consequential public health emergencies of recent decades, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the H1N1 influenza outbreak, the opioid epidemic, and the Zika virus crisis. His leadership also extended to critical recovery operations following Hurricane Maria, where federal response mechanisms required both strategic precision and cross-sector collaboration.

Prior to his federal tenure, Mr. González held senior roles within the Office of the Governor of New Jersey and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, where he contributed to policy development and implementation at the highest levels of state government. These experiences have endowed him with a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory, operational, and human dimensions that shape effective public health systems.

The appointment comes at a time when treatment providers throughout New Jersey continue to navigate evolving challenges related to substance use disorders, mental health care access, and long-term recovery support. Within this context, NJCTP’s decision to bring Mr. González into a senior advisory role reflects a deliberate effort to align policy insight with frontline service delivery.

“Dennis E. González brings an extraordinary depth of experience and a principled commitment to public service that aligns seamlessly with the mission of our Coalition,” said Daniel J. Regan, Founder and President of the New Jersey Coalition of Treatment Providers. “His leadership at the highest levels of federal and state government, particularly during periods of national and regional crisis, reflects not only technical expertise but a profound understanding of the communities we serve. We are honored to welcome him as Senior Advisor and confident that his counsel will significantly strengthen our efforts to advance high-quality treatment, expand recovery systems of care, and promote equitable public health outcomes across New Jersey.”

According to Coalition leadership, his expertise is expected to enhance the organization’s strategic initiatives aimed at improving quality standards in treatment services, expanding recovery-oriented systems of care, and strengthening statewide public health outcomes. His longstanding advocacy for underserved communities further reinforces the Coalition’s mission to ensure that equitable access remains central to all programmatic and policy efforts.

The New Jersey Coalition of Treatment Providers represents a broad network of organizations dedicated to advancing excellence in addiction treatment and recovery services. With the addition of Mr. González, the Coalition is positioned to deepen its influence across both governmental and community sectors, fostering a more integrated and responsive framework for addressing the state’s most pressing health challenges.

As public health systems continue to evolve in the aftermath of overlapping crises, the integration of seasoned leadership such as that of Mr. González underscores a broader institutional recognition: that effective solutions require not only resources, but experience, coordination, and a sustained commitment to the public good.