Chinweike Eseonu is an accomplished operations leader and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with extensive experience in healthcare transformation, government operations, and organizational excellence. As Chief Operating Officer at the Maryland Department of General Services, he plays a pivotal role in overseeing the agency's operational functions and strategic initiatives. Working closely with the Secretary and leadership team, Dr. Eseonu provides strategic oversight of a $2.8 billion Capital Grants Program while leading critical departments including Information Technology, Fiscal Services, Performance Improvement and Innovation, Policy, and Emergency Management.With a strong emphasis on data-driven performance management, Dr. Eseonu leads efforts to implement high reliability organizational principles and streamline processes across divisions. His strategic vision aligns the department's continuous improvement initiatives with state priorities and the Governor's objectives, ensuring DGS operates with efficiency and innovation. His expertise extends to change management, process optimization, and leadership development, making him an integral part of Maryland's efforts to deliver effective and responsive public services.
Since joining DGS, Chinweike previously served as Chief of Innovation & Continuous Improvement at the Maryland Office of State Procurement, where he created performance management systems that reported directly to the Governor's office and established standard work processes to support organizational excellence.
Prior to joining DGS, his healthcare leadership experience spans multiple major health systems, most recently as Director of Performance Improvement at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, where he trained analytical teams as lean performance improvement coaches and translated regulatory data into actionable process improvements. As an Organizational Effectiveness Performance Partner at Ascension Healthcare, Chinweike demonstrated his ability to create lasting cultural change, implementing systems that reduced turnover by 30% in high-turnover teams while improving associate retention and reducing care team burnout.
Throughout his career as a Process Improvement Director and Operational Excellence Consultant, Dr. Eseonu led continuous improvement initiatives that reduced annual operating costs by over $1 million at healthcare organizations while simultaneously improving patient care and employee engagement. Working collaboratively with directors, management teams, and cross-functional stakeholders, he has consistently delivered sustainable improvements through strategic planning and operational goal implementation.
Dr. Eseonu’s academic experience includes serving as an Industrial Engineering & Engineering Management Professor at Oregon State University, where he designed and led courses in Lean Process Improvement, Operational Excellence, and Strategic Planning. He created innovative community engagement programs that resulted in new business ventures and published his research in over 10 journal articles and 50+ conference presentations.
Chinweike earned a Ph.D. in Systems and Engineering Management from Texas Tech University, an M.Sc. in Engineering Management from the University of Minnesota, and a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ottawa in Canada. He holds certifications as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers.
A skilled strategist and analytical innovator, Chinweike has trained and coached over 20 consultants to achieve Black Belt certifications and has successfully guided organizations through complex change management initiatives, consistently delivering results that improve both operational efficiency and employee experience.
