Kevin J. O’Connor, a former senior U.S. Justice Department official and an honors graduate from the UConn School of Law, has been named to join the University’s Board of Trustees.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy this month appointed O’Connor, who is the former U.S. Attorney for Connecticut and former U.S. Associate Attorney General, to the UConn board. The appointment is effective immediately.

“I’m grateful to Gov. Malloy for this opportunity,” O’Connor said. “I look forward to serving with my fellow UConn trustees to help maintain and increase the excellence of our flagship university, an institution whose welfare is important to our state and to me personally as a proud graduate.”

O’Connor is currently the Chief Legal Officer for Point72. He joined Point72 in June 2015 from United Technologies Corp. (UTC), where he served as vice president of global ethics & compliance. Prior to joining UTC, he was a partner and chair of the white-collar practice group at the law firm Bracewell & Giuliani.

He received his BA with honors from the University of Notre Dame, and graduated with high honors from the UConn School of Law. He also earned the law school’s Distinguished Graduate Award.

“Kevin has had a very impressive career in both the public and private sectors and will bring that wealth of experience with him to the Board of Trustees,” UConn board Chair Thomas Kruger said. “I had the chance to meet with him recently and talk about the many opportunities and challenges that UConn faces in the years ahead. He clearly has a deep affinity for UConn, and looks forward to contributing to it as a member of the board. He’s an outstanding addition.”

His service as a UConn trustee adds to an extensive list of public service positions he has held on a professional and volunteer basis.

O’Connor was appointed by President George W. Bush, and was confirmed unanimously by the U. S. Senate, as United States Attorney for Connecticut from 2002 to 2008, and as Associate Attorney General of the United States from 2008 to 2009.

During his tenure with the Department of Justice, he also served as Associate Deputy Attorney General, Chief of Staff to the Attorney General, and chair of the department’s Intellectual Property Task Force.

In 2008, he received the Edmond J. Randolph Award, the Department of Justice’s highest honor. He previously worked in the Division of Enforcement of the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C.

He also currently serves as chair of the Board of Directors at Trinity Health of New England, an integrated health-delivery system and owner of five hospitals in the region.

He began his legal career as a law clerk for the Hon. William H. Timbers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He has served at law firms in Connecticut and New York, and is a past corporation counsel for the Town of West Hartford.