Washington state names private sector tech leader as new chief information security officer
Washington state has named Gwen Gann, an experienced private sector tech leader, as the state’s new chief information security officer.
Gann shared the announcement in a LinkedIn post, and in the role, she will oversee the state’s Office of Cybersecurity, which sets Washington’s cybersecurity strategy and protects state government networks from cyber threats. It also provides monitoring services, responds to cyberattacks, helps agencies strengthen their networks, and provides incident-response support. OCS also works with state, local and military partners on cybersecurity and conducts public education and outreach to raise awareness of online threats.
She fills the role left vacant by Ralph Johnson, who retired from government this summer after three-and-a-half years as the cyber lead at Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech), the state’s tech office.
Gann joins Washington from the private sector after more than two decades in technology leadership. She most recently served as technology director at HealthFirst, a hospital-products company, according to her LinkedIn profile. Before that, she spent more than six years as chief information officer at Public Partnerships LLC, a financial-management services company, in addition to leading IT organizations, integrating technology environments and managing technology programs across health and human services and financial-management organizations earlier in her career.
In the LinkedIn post, Gann said the “opportunity means more to me than a new title.”
“Throughout my career, I’ve believed that meaningful transformation is possible, even when the challenges are complex, the systems are deeply established, or the path forward isn’t obvious. Progress happens when we are willing to ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions, build strong partnerships, and then do the work required to make something better,” she said.
“I’ve had the privilege of leading teams through transformation, strengthening technology and security programs, finding opportunities where others saw constraints, and helping organizations become more resilient, efficient, and prepared for what comes next. But the accomplishments I value most have never been mine alone. They have come from bringing good people together, creating an environment where they can do their best work, and building trust across organizations, customers, and partners,” Gann continued.
She praised the state’s CIO Bill Kehoe and his leadership team for “ultimately trusting me with the opportunity to lead this work.”
“Our conversations throughout the process reinforced how much opportunity exists to strengthen cybersecurity across Washington through partnership, thoughtful stewardship, and a willingness to challenge what can be better,” she continued. “I’m excited to now turn those conversations into action alongside him and leaders across the state.”
