Fitchburg State University Police Chief Michael J. Cloutier will receive the Gov. Paul Cellucci Award for Leadership and Mentoring in State Government this fall.
The honor will be bestowed as part of Gov. Maura Healey’s 2026 Performance Recognition Program awards that will be presented at the State House. Awardees are nominated by their peers, reviewed by an independent cross-secretariat committee, and approved by the Governor’s Office.
Chief Cloutier joined the Fitchburg State campus in 2014 as Deputy Chief of University Police, and was promoted to Chief of Police in 2016.
Fitchburg State President Dr. Donna Hodge expanded Cloutier’s duties and named him Executive in Charge of University Operations in February 2025. In his expanded role, he oversees University Police and manages all campus safety and training initiatives, as well as managing the university’s vehicle fleet.
"Michael Cloutier leads with sound judgment, compassion, and a deep commitment to public service," said President Hodge. "At Fitchburg State University, that commitment extends well beyond keeping our campus safe. He helps officers and colleagues grow into leaders who understand that earning trust, treating people fairly, and serving their community are central to the work. I'm proud to see the Commonwealth recognize the example he sets and the leadership he inspires in others."
Michael Cloutier brings sound judgment and a trusted perspective to university leadership. He works closely with the Office of the General Counsel, Personnel Services, and Title IX to address complex issues affecting the campus community. Across the teams he leads, he models fairness, earns trust, and supports the professional growth of employees, strengthening a culture of shared responsibility and public service.
“Chief Michael Cloutier is a transformative leader, who was called to be peacekeeper,” said Fitchburg State Vice President for Human Resources and General Counsel Stacey Luster. “Michael has built a culture of community policing and professional collaboration, based upon mutual respect and a genuine love for humans, regardless of age, race, gender or position.”
He also oversees a diverse group of university employees, fostering a culture of public service that is based upon shared values of fairness, quiet confidence, genuine friendships and trust.
Cloutier’s legacy of service at Fitchburg State includes the development of the university’s groundbreaking police academy program, in partnership with the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee. This program integrates a full municipal police academy into a five-year concurrent degree program. As the Sponsoring Chief, Cloutier is helping to shape the next generation of law enforcement through a model that emphasizes community-focused policing, with nearly all of the recruits from the FSU Police Academy receiving job offers before graduation.
His impact extends beyond the campus. Following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Cloutier wrote a poem, “If You Could See” to express his hope for people to see things through different lenses, to improve police and community relations. The poem gained widespread attention online, leading to Chief Clouter and his poem being featured on CNN.
“The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is better because of Chief Michael Cloutier, especially Fitchburg State University and the hundreds of Police Officers throughout the Commonwealth who have benefitted from his mentoring,” President Hodge said.