Gov. Gregoire appoints Rob St. John as director of Consolidated Technology Services

For Immediate Release: April 11, 2012

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced she has appointed Rob St. John as director of Consolidated Technology Services. St. John is currently the deputy director for the Office of the Chief Information Officer, and replaces Mike Ricchio, who recently announced he would be leaving CTS.

�Rob has earned a lot of fans in state government, and rightfully so,� Gregoire said. �His work ethic is extraordinary. His knowledge of our state�s needs and how to fill them is impressive. He did a tremendous job helping us get the Office of the Chief Information Officer off the ground. I know he�ll bring that same passion to CTS, and will continue our strong effort to be a more technology-driven state.�

�CTS is a key agency in transforming information technology to be more responsive in delivering effective services for Washington state government and the people we serve,� St. John said. �I'm excited to be asked to help lead this agency into the future.�

Before serving as deputy at the OCIO, St. John spent more than two decades at the Department of Social and Health Services. He joined DSHS in 1985, first working directly with clients. He later became a systems administrator, supporting the state�s welfare reform effort by leading the development of the state�s WorkFirst case management and child care eligibility systems. In 2007, DSHS named St. John as chief information officer.

Gregoire created CTS through legislation passed in 2011 to help consolidate and streamline state agencies. The agency has been charged with centralizing and standardizing the state�s basic information technologies services, such as email, telecommunications and desktop support.

�I thank Mike for his tireless work and leadership as we developed Consolidated Technology Services,� Gregoire said. �This was not an easy task � as we consolidated five state agencies into two with diminishing public resources. His guidance was greatly appreciated, and has set the course for a more efficient state government.�