Rev. Dr. Herron Gaston

Rev. Dr. Herron Keyon Gaston is the Senior Pastor of Summerfield United Methodist Church in Bridgeport and serves as the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Bridgeport, with responsibilities covering the City’s strategic policy development and administrative operations.
Rev. Gaston’s educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Political Science/Pre-Law Studies, and a double master’s degree in Public Administration and Political Science from Florida A&M University; a Master’s degree in Divinity and a Master’s degree in Sacred Theology, both from Yale University; a Doctorate degree from Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School; a certification on International Human Rights from the University of Oxford; and a Law degree from Quinnipiac University.

Rev. Gaston is a former lobbyist and legislative analyst. He is the immediate past president of the Civil Service Commission in the City of Bridgeport. Currently, he is the police chaplain for Bridgeport Police Department. Rev. Gaston has served in the Governor’s Office in Florida as a Gubernatorial Fellow. He has worked for several high-powered politicians at the local, state, and national level, including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Bill Nelson, Fredricka Wilson, Al Lawson, Charlie Crist, and the late honorable John Lewis. Dr. Gaston was mentored by the late Julian Bond and inspired by the social activism of former NAACP President Ben Jealous. Rev. Gaston serves on a plethora of professional national and international boards and commissions of preeminent significance.

Rev. Gaston is the founder and director of the Gaston Justice Coalition Group, LLC- a faith-based, non-profit organization comprised of pastors, ministers, churches, educators, and community leaders whose mission is to address critical issues and reduce violence and incarceration, particularly in inner-cities.

When he’s not engaged in his professional life, Rev. Gaston enjoys swimming, white water rafting, ATV riding, skydiving, and cooking.

Rev. Gaston was born and raised in Haines City, Florida. However, he has spent most of his adult life in Connecticut and affectionately calls Connecticut home.