Michael Watson

Mike brings over 17 years at VITA and more than two decades of public sector technology leadership to the CIO role. He has earned a reputation for bridging technical depth with strategic execution, leading cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, product management, and technology teams that deliver secure and innovative solutions aligned to the missions of state government. As the Commonwealth’s technology executive, he will lead enterprise IT strategy, cloud transformation, AI adoption, and digital modernization across the Commonwealth’s IT portfolio.

Mike is a recognized leader in technology and cybersecurity, with a career built on ensuring that modernization efforts are grounded in sound judgment and deliver lasting value to the agencies and citizens they serve. He brings that perspective to every dimension of technology leadership, ensuring that innovation is built on a foundation of trust and resilience. He actively champions technology innovation and education through national conferences, and partnerships supporting local governments, schools, and local organizations.

Mike is a graduate of James Madison University and the University of Pennsylvania, and is currently pursuing additional education at Virginia Commonwealth University.