DES provides administrative support services to government organizations, providing expertise and cost-savings so agencies can focus on their core work for the people of Washington.

As shown in DES' organizational chart, the agency director has a four-member Cabinet that provides aligned, strategic leadership across all of DES’ operations to help the agency meet its mission, vision, and values.

The DES Cabinet includes Director Matt Jones, Chief of Staff Ashlee Delaney, Chief Transformation Officer Pam Duncan, Chief Operations Officer Jo Aiken, and Chief Equity & Performance Officer Adrian Thompson.

Director Matt Jones

As a member of the Governor's Executive Cabinet, Matt drives the mission of DES to strengthen the business of government.

With more than 900 employees across many diverse business lines, DES delivers cost-effective central support services that meet the needs of customers throughout state and local governments, so they can focus on their core missions. Matt oversees DES' $280 million operating budget, and a capital program of $1.2 billion through many different programs, including centralized procurement, facilities management, real estate, printing and mailing, surplus equipment disposition, public works capital projects, risk management, fleet management, workforce support and development, stewardship of the country's largest state capitol campus, and the support of small agencies.

Matt started his state service with the Department of General Administration in 2006 and has been with DES since it was formed in 2011. Over the years, he's helped shape key divisions within the agency and establish programs and services that support Washington state.

After over seven years leading our Capitol Campus and Visitor Services (CSVS) Division, Matt was appointed DES interim chief operations officer in October 2024. Gov. Ferguson appointed Matt interim director in January 2025 and then director in July 2025.

As DES' director, Matt leads the agency with a clear vision to enhance operations and customer service and strengthen the business of government to ensure services are funneled to communities across the state. He's focused on elevating the agency and its role in supporting small businesses, stewardship of Capitol Campus, and being effective business partners to state agencies, enabling the state to provide efficient services to the people of Washington.

Chief of Staff Ashlee Delaney

Ashlee Delaney was appointed chief of staff in October 2025. She joined DES in 2023 as legislative director and has also served as interim chief external affairs officer and director of legislative and tribal affairs.

Ashlee brings nearly two decades of public service experience with a strong background in legislative strategy, government relations, and tribal engagement. Before DES, she held leadership roles at the Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE), the Employment Security Department, and the Washington State Senate.

 

 

 

 

Chief Transformation Officer Pam Duncan

Pamela (Pam) Duncan joined DES in March 2023 as our chief transformation officer, with almost 40 years of professional experience ranging across both public and private sectors. She is a change agent. Her career has focused on identifying critical institutional, community, and social issues to create opportunities for collaborating on sustainable systems redesign.

Pam is passionate about helping others understand the foundations of systemic racism and raising awareness on the journey to undo institutionalized and systemic oppression. Her signature work is with systems development, particularly using the collective impact model. She approaches every situation as "what could be" based on examining how things evolved to their present state; challenging the existing status quo, people's beliefs and habits, and identifying alternative models that shift power paradigms.

Pam has served as CEO of the Metropolitan Development Council, Human Services Manager for the City of Tacoma, Director of Community Investment and Assessment with United Way of Pierce County, and adjunct instructor with the Evergreen State College. Internationally, Pam is cofounder of the Ivory Coast Agricultural Network, which includes a non-governmental organization (NGO) in West Africa and a U.S.-based nonprofit organization.

Chief Operations Officer

Jo Aiken serves as our chief operations officer (COO), leading with a focus on operational excellence, strategic alignment, and service delivery that centers people and equity.

Jo joined DES in October 2022 as the deputy assistant director of the Capitol Security & Visitor Services Division (CSVS), later serving as assistant director before being appointed COO in September 2025.

With a strong background in infrastructure, compliance, and security, Jo has led operations in complex, high-impact environments.

Prior to DES, she served as deputy director in the Office of Facilities at the Washington State Department of Health, where she was responsible for workplace safety, emergency preparedness and response, physical security systems, ergonomics, and hazard mitigation. Earlier in her career, she managed daily operations in large correctional facilities across the country and played a key role in launching a statewide Security Operations Center.

Aiken holds a bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of Hawaii and a master's degree in public safety and organizational leadership from Capella University. She lives in Olympia with her wife.

Adrian Thompson Chief Equity & Performance Officer

Adrian Thompson was appointed chief equity and performance officer in October 2025. He joined DES in 2022 as chief equity officer and has also served as assistant director of equity and employee development.

Adrian leads work across human resources, equity and employee development, contracts and procurement, strategy and performance, and business diversity. His work focuses on aligning these functions to strengthen organization excellence and advance equity across state government.

Before joining DES, Adrian worked at the Washington State Department of Corrections in psychology and equity leadership roles.