WaTech Director and State CIO Bill Kehoe appeared before the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee on February 19 for his confirmation hearing. This marks the first step in the confirmation process, where he highlighted WaTech’s key initiatives, including cybersecurity, IT modernization, and digital services.
The committee is scheduled to vote this Friday. If approved, the nomination will move to the full Senate for final confirmation. Bill was previously confirmed unanimously by the Senate in 2022.
During the hearing, Bill outlined WaTech’s progress in becoming a high-performing enterprise IT organization that delivers over 60 critical technology services statewide. He emphasized the agency’s priorities, including:
- Advancing artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to improve government services.
- Enhancing digital accessibility and integrating state services to create a more connected and user-friendly experience.
- Driving IT modernization efforts, including improvements in identity and access management, data analytics, and customer experience.
Bill reaffirmed WaTech’s commitment to supporting state agencies, modernizing IT policies, and strengthening technology governance across Washington.