Michael Watson serves as Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia and agency head of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA). Appointed by Governor Spanberger in April 2026, Watson brings more than two decades of public-sector technology leadership and more than 17 years of experience with VITA.
Prior to becoming CIO, Watson served as Virginia’s Chief Information Security Officer and Deputy CIO, where he led efforts to strengthen the Commonwealth’s cybersecurity posture and protect Virginia’s information and technology systems. He has earned national recognition for his leadership, including being named one of Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers in 2024.
As CIO, Watson oversees the Commonwealth’s enterprise information technology operations, with a focus on cybersecurity, modernization, innovation and delivering secure, effective technology solutions that support state government and the people of Virginia.