About us
The state Office of Privacy and Data Protection (OPDP) was created by the state Legislature in 2016.
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.
The office's duties include:
- Conducting an annual privacy review.
- Providing privacy training for state agencies and employees.
- Articulate privacy principles and best practices for state agencies, to coordinate data protection.
- Participate in the review of major state agency projects involving personally identifiable information.
In addition, the privacy office serves as a resource to local governments and the public on data privacy and protection concerns. The office develops and promotes the dissemination of best practices for the collection and storage of personally identifiable information
OPDP also provides a report to the Legislature at least once every four years on the performance of the office.
State Chief Privacy Officer
Katy Ruckle was appointed as Washington state's Chief Privacy Officer in 2020. Since then, Katy has published Washington's foundational privacy principles and launched statewide training on privacy and data protection for public employees. In 2023, Katy received the Governor’s Outstanding Leadership Award for her privacy leadership in the state. In 2024, Katy earned two national leadership awards: GovTech’s Top 25 Doer, Dreamer, and Drivers, and StateScoop’s Top 50. Currently, Katy serves as co-chair to the State’s AI Community of Practice and published guidance for public procurement of automated decision systems. Katy is also leading work on the Governor’s Executive Order on AI and serves as the appointed representative from WaTech on the AGO AI Task Force.
In previous roles, Katy created and directed the privacy program at the state's Department of Social and Health Services -- overseeing public records, records management, legal discovery, and HIPAA compliance. Before that she served as the agency’s Contracts Counsel, advising on complex contract and procurement issues regarding health care and technology.
Katy is a licensed attorney and was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in 2005. She also holds certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) in US privacy law (CIPP/US) and privacy program management (CIPM) and is recognized as a Fellow of Information Privacy from the IAPP. She presently serves as an officer on the board of the Washington Government Lawyers Bar Association and volunteers as a mediator at the Pierce County Center for Dialog and Resolution. She has worked for Washington state since 2006.
To learn more about what Katy and the Office of Privacy and Data Protection are up to you can subscribe to her Privacy Points blog by signing up for the Privacy Community.
OPDP We are WaTech
In this episode of We Are WaTech, Katy Ruckle, Zack Hudgins, Sofiya Ahmed and Matt King of the Office of Privacy and Data Protection field questions on everything from how they got started in privacy to how the work they do makes Washington state a better place.
Click here to watch more We are WaTech videos
Contact
privacy@watech.wa.gov