A thermal management lighting system comprising: a replaceable illumination module comprising: one or more solid state lighting elements, a printed circuit board electrically and thermally connected to the one or more solid state lighting elements wherein the printed circuit board comprises or is connected to a thermal spreading element, and a base module wherein the replaceable illumination module is removably coupled to the base module wherein the base module comprises a heat sink, wherein the heat sink is in thermal contact with the replaceable illumination module via the thermal spreading element, wherein the heat sink dissipates heat generated by the one or more solid state lighting elements during operation; characterized by a cover cap affixed to the printed circuit board, wherein the cover cap protects the one or more solid state lighting elements and the circuit board from the environmental intrusions; and a shaft and base connector assembly for coupling to the replaceable illumination module comprising: a base connector, mechanically coupled to but electrically isolated from the heat sink, wherein the base connector is configured to receive power from a lighting socket during operation; a shaft, a base adaptor, wherein the base adaptor couples the base connector to the shaft; and base module circuitry wherein the base module circuitry comprises one or more of: power conditioning circuitry; or control circuitry; wherein the heat sink is coupled to the shaft and base connector assembly with an interference fit; wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of stacked extrusions, wherein each stacked extrusion has a respective radius, wherein the plurality of stacked extrusions are ordered in accordance with their respective radii to form a stepwise tapered heat sink. a replaceable illumination module comprising: one or more solid state lighting elements, a printed circuit board electrically and thermally connected to the one or more solid state lighting elements wherein the printed circuit board comprises or is connected to a thermal spreading element, and one or more solid state lighting elements, a printed circuit board electrically and thermally connected to the one or more solid state lighting elements wherein the printed circuit board comprises or is connected to a thermal spreading element, and a base module wherein the replaceable illumination module is removably coupled to the base module wherein the base module comprises a heat sink, wherein the heat sink is in thermal contact with the replaceable illumination module via the thermal spreading element, wherein the heat sink dissipates heat generated by the one or more solid state lighting elements during operation; characterized by a cover cap affixed to the printed circuit board, wherein the cover cap protects the one or more solid state lighting elements and the circuit board from the environmental intrusions; and a shaft and base connector assembly for coupling to the replaceable illumination module comprising: a base connector, mechanically coupled to but electrically isolated from the heat sink, wherein the base connector is configured to receive power from a lighting socket during operation; a shaft, a base adaptor, wherein the base adaptor couples the base connector to the shaft; and base module circuitry wherein the base module circuitry comprises one or more of: power conditioning circuitry; or control circuitry; a base connector, mechanically coupled to but electrically isolated from the heat sink, wherein the base connector is configured to receive power from a lighting socket during operation; a shaft, a base adaptor, wherein the base adaptor couples the base connector to the shaft; and base module circuitry wherein the base module circuitry comprises one or more of: power conditioning circuitry; or control circuitry; power conditioning circuitry; or control circuitry; wherein the heat sink is coupled to the shaft and base connector assembly with an interference fit; wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of stacked extrusions, wherein each stacked extrusion has a respective radius, wherein the plurality of stacked extrusions are ordered in accordance with their respective radii to form a stepwise tapered heat sink.