Garret Yoshimi, vice president for information technology and chief information officer at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ System, will retire effective June 1, 2026, following more than a decade in the role and a long career in information technology serving Â鶹´«Ã½. His final day in the office will be May 22.
Yoshimi returned to UH in January 2015 and has played a central role in guiding the university¡¯s information technology strategy across its 10 campuses. He previously served as telecommunications manager and director of technology infrastructure for the university system.
“Garret is not only exceptionally knowledgeable and widely respected in his field, but also one of the kindest and most thoughtful colleagues you could ever hope to work with, and he will be greatly missed across the University of Â鶹´«Ã½,” said UH President Wendy Hensel in a message to university leadership. “Please join me in thanking Garret for his many contributions to UH and in wishing him all the best in his retirement.”
“It has been my privilege to work with such a dedicated team, including going beyond the call for multiple high-profile efforts,” Yoshimi said in a message to UH ITS employees. “I am proud of the work we have accomplished together, that made a material difference for our UH community, and our global community of institutional peers and partners.”
Leading systemwide innovation and connectivity
During his leadership, Yoshimi oversaw systemwide efforts to modernize information technology services, strengthen cybersecurity protections and expand digital tools supporting teaching, learning and operations across the university.
Among his recent initiatives, Yoshimi helped lead efforts to position Â鶹´«Ã½ as a global connectivity hub. In 2025, the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ System advanced a partnership with Google on a proposed trans-Pacific subsea fiber optic system, including a cable landing station at UH West Oʻahu aimed at expanding international connectivity and improving network resilience across Â鶹´«Ã½ and the Pacific region.
He also supported a collaboration with Google Public Sector to develop artificial intelligence tools to support student career pathways, connecting academic programs with workforce opportunities in Â鶹´«Ã½.
Yoshimi and colleagues have been recognized for their longstanding contributions to global research and education networking. In 2026, he was part of a UH team honored with the CENIC Innovations in Networking Award for Network Partner, recognizing more than 35 years of work connecting Â鶹´«Ã½ and the Pacific to global research networks.
He received the ACUTA Bill D. Morris Award for individual leadership from the Association for College and University Technology Advancement and remains active in national higher education IT organizations, including EDUCAUSE and Internet2.
A Honolulu native, Yoshimi has nearly five decades of experience in information technology leadership across higher education, government and the private sector. He was appointed vice president for information technology and chief information officer in 2015, succeeding David Lassner, who went on to serve as UH president. In addition to his time at the UH, Yoshimi¡¯s career includes leadership roles with the Â鶹´«Ã½ State Judiciary—where he served as its first chief information officer—the East-West Center and DTRIC Insurance.
Yoshimi earned a bachelor¡¯s degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University and a graduate certificate in telecommunications and information resource management from the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹.
During the transition, Brad Christ, associate vice president and deputy chief information officer, will serve as interim vice president for information technology and chief information officer.