Virginia Appoints Michael Watson as New CIO

Michael Watson Appointed Virginia Chief Information Officer Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has appointed Michael Watson as the Commonwealth’s new Chief Information Officer (CIO) and director of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA). The appointment, announced on April 16, 2026, follows the nomination of former Virginia CIO Bob Osmond to lead Delaware’s state IT office. Watson brings over 18 years of experience with VITA and more than two decades in public-sector technology leadership to the role. Prior to his appointment, he served concurrently as Virginia’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and deputy CIO for more than 14 years. In these positions, he oversaw the state’s enterprise IT strategy, cloud transformation initiatives, and cybersecurity programs. His career at VITA began in 2007 as a director of security incident management. He advanced to deputy CISO in 2011 before being named CIO in 2026. Watson’s leadership has been recognized nationally, including receiving the Thomas M. Jarrett State Cybersecurity Leadership Award from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers in 2024 for his perform advancing cybersecurity policy in Virginia. As CIO, Watson will lead enterprise IT strategy, cloud transformation, artificial intelligence adoption, and digital modernization efforts across Virginia’s government technology portfolio. The agency he now leads manages approximately 65,000 users, 2,500 applications, and $1.3 billion in annual technology procurement for the Commonwealth. Watson holds degrees from James Madison University and the University of Pennsylvania and is currently pursuing additional education at Virginia Commonwealth University. He remains an active advocate for technology education through national conferences and partnerships supporting local governments, schools, and community organizations.