About | WaTech

Mission

Advancing Washington's technology strategies and services.

Vision

Trusted leader and technology partner of choice.

Guiding Principles

People first
Customer focused
Service-driven
Deliver quality solutions
Lead with integrity

Agency Overview

Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) operates the state’s core technology services - the central network and data center – and provides strategic and comprehensive information security to protect state networks from growing cyber threats. The agency also leads the implementation of a strategic direction and enterprise architecture for information technology and oversees the portfolio of major IT projects for state government. WaTech serves Washington state agencies, county, city and tribal governments, and public-benefit nonprofits.

WaTech's state Office of Privacy and Data Protection leads Washington’s effort to protect the state and citizens’ data and privacy through advocacy and education. The office, overseen by the state Chief Privacy Officer, serves as a central point of contact for state agencies on policy matters involving data privacy and data protection, and as a resource for consumer privacy issues.

WaTech's state Office of Cybersecurity (OCS), formally designated in statute in the 2021 legislative session, provides strategic direction for cybersecurity and protects the state government network from growing cyber threats. The office works with state, local government and military agencies to build more secure networks and has teams that can respond on a moment’s notice to help agencies deal with cyber threats.

History

The Legislature created "the consolidated technology services agency" in statute in 2011 (RCW 43.105.006) per Governor Inslee's 2015-17 budget to provide state agencies with a centralized provider and procurer of information technology services. To accomplish the Governor's directive, WaTech was created through the consolidation of the former Department of Information Services (DIS), the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) and the enterprise applications division of the Department of Enterprise Services (DES). The state Office of Cybersecurity (OCS) was created and added to WaTech in 2015 and formally designated in statute in the 2021 legislative session.

William "Bill" Kehoe | Director and Washington State Chief Information Officer

Bill Kehoe joined WaTech as the Director and State CIO for Washington on August 2, 2021. He joins us from Los Angeles County in California where he has served as the Chief Information Officer since 2017.

While at Los Angeles County, he managed enterprise security, information management, enterprise architecture and technology consulting services for 37 county departments. He also advised the Board of Supervisors and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) regarding enterprise technology strategy, policy, and governance.

He has a long history of managing information technology departments in local and state governments, including over 15 years in Washington state agencies and counties. Before working as CIO for Los Angeles County, he held the Chief Information Officer and Information Department Director for King County from 2010-2017 and served as the first Chief Information Officer for the Department of Licensing from 2002-2010.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Gonzaga University and a project management certificate from the University of Washington. He has also completed Lean Six Sigma training.

WaTech Executive Team