Leadership

To ensure seamless solutions for customers, we use a "One DES" organizational approach where all divisions have equal responsibility for working together to help us achieve our goals, as reflected in our organizational chart. Areas of work are organized into two areas:

  • Operations: responsible for delivering the end product to external customers.
  • Shared transformational services: responsible for providing the systems, processes, and support that make operations possible.

A three-member Executive Cabinet leads those efforts and supports the agency's mission, vision, and values.

The DES Executive Cabinet includes Interim Director Matt Jones and Deputy Director and Chief Transformation Officer Pam Duncan. The Deputy Director/Chief Operations Officer position is currently vacant.

Interim Director Matt Jones

Matt Jones smiling headshot

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, care and custody of the country's largest state capitol campus, and the support of small agencies.

Matt Jones started his state service with the Department of General Administration in 2006, joining DES when it was formed in 2011. Before accepting the role as interim director, he served as assistant director of the Capitol Security & Services Division and interim chief operations officer.

During his time as the assistant director of CSVS, Matt focused on fostering strong partner relationships, adding needed resources to the division, and advancing strategic initiatives such as implementing the 24/7 Capitol Campus Security Operations Center.

Matt served as interim chief operations officer from Oct. 2024 until Jan. 2025 when he was promoted to interim director for DES.

Deputy Director and Chief Transformation Officer Pam Duncan

Pamela Duncan with a big smile on her face

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-govermental organizaiton (NGO) in West Africa and a U.S.-based nonprofit organization.

Deputy Director and Chief Operations Officer

This position is currently vacant.