From Michael Jordan, Chief Operating Officer

Sarah Miller, who since June 2012 has served as my Deputy Chief Operating Officer, was recently named the Chief Operating Officer for Technology with the Department of Human Services, a new position for DHS.

Sarah has been an invaluable aide to me in striving to transform the way state government operates. I deeply appreciate her contributions to DAS and to many enterprise initiatives.  

Most recently, Sarah was on loan to Cover Oregon where she was instrumental in the successful transition to the federal health care website. She will continue directing a Medicaid project over the next year as well as serve as the DHS COO for Technology effective Jan. 1, 2015. 

On behalf of all DAS, I wish Sarah every success in her new assignments, and offer heartfelt thanks for all she has accomplished and given to our organization. Thank you, Sarah!   

I have asked Barry Pack to serve as Deputy Chief Operating Officer, a role he has filled on an interim basis the past few months. Barry came to DAS about two years ago after serving four years as Deputy Secretary of State. With his wealth of legislative experience, he quickly became a key member of DAS’ leadership team and has been instrumental in helping us transform our relationship with the Legislature. He has guided the work of state government’s Improving Government team and the projects they have sponsored and has been an integral advisor to me and the Enterprise Leadership Team. Barry has worked closely with the DAS Executive Team and DAS Deputy Director Sarah Jo Chaplen, who oversees service delivery, and I am delighted he has accepted the post of Deputy COO.     

DAS also welcomes two other enterprise leaders, Mike Stencel and Stefan Richards, as another, Julie Bozzi, transitions to Oregon Health Authority. I invite you to read about them below.

Please join me in welcoming these public service professionals to new roles and accept my thanks for your part in serving Oregonians.  

Michael Jordan, State COO and DAS Director  

Mike Stencel in early October joined DAS to serve as administrator of the Enterprise Asset Management division overseeing all facets of state facilities, fleet, parking, and surplus property.

Stencel has extensive experience with public and private-sector facilities planning, development and construction, zoning, budget, and finance. He is the current Commander of the Oregon Air National Guard where he is responsible for two F-15 fighter wings and one combat operations group. In this role he is responsible for the air defense of the Pacific Northwest, as well as the training of all Air Force and National Guard F-15C pilots. He is also responsible for the buildings, infrastructure and assets valued in the billions of dollars. His public service career with the Oregon Air National Guard spans more than 30 years.

“I enjoy working with customers and stakeholders to find a place of agreement in which good projects can move forward,” said Mike. “I’m pleased to join DAS at a time when there is a lot of energy and good will to collaborate and innovate.”

At the University of Washington Stencel earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in civil engineering and political science. He also has an MBA from Portland State University.

Stefan Richards was appointed to the role of Oregon's Chief Information Security Officer, effective Sept. 1, 2014. As Oregon's CISO, Richards will set Oregon's direction for information security, working closely with Oregon technology and security leaders. He will also manage the Enterprise Security Office in the Office of the State CIO.

Richards has led security and technology ventures for nearly two decades. He comes to DAS from Cover Oregon, where he served as Chief Information Security Officer. Prior to Cover Oregon, Richards led security teams at Microsoft, Intel, and other technology ventures. 

"Stefan Richards has experience in operations, policy, and security incident-response, which has been helpful to state government already," said State CIO Alex Pettit. "Please join me in welcoming him."

Richards earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science from Oregon State University and his MBA from University of Washington.

As a next step in the work she has been doing with the Cover Oregon transition project, Enterprise Technology Services Administrator Julie Bozzi will take on the duties of Project Manager on the Oregon Health Authority MAGI Medicaid transfer project.

This opportunity will let Julie apply her background and skills in project management to a critical transition point for the state and the agency. Michael Rodgers will continue in his role as Interim-Administrator of Enterprise Technology Services.

Recently, the Statesman Journal published an article about the state’s new approach to leasing private office space. As part of a project chartered by the Enterprise Leadership Team and sponsored by DCBS Director Pat Allen, this new approach improves the ability of DAS Real Estate Services to negotiate for privately-owned office space on behalf of agencies. Lease negotiations for Oregon State Police, Employment Department, DMV, and PERS have demonstrated success in brokering leases that benefit agencies. The Employment Department, for example, estimates a net savings of approximately $40,000 a month as a result of their recent Call Center consolidation leasing project.

As noted by the Statesman, the outcome of the leasing initiative is to create better efficiencies in state office space and free up resources that agencies can direct toward their mission.

For more information, visit the project website. 

When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) moved its regional headquarters to Newport, it created opportunities for other nearby ports. Newport restructured to accommodate NOAA operations, but that created a short-term shortage of port services for the public. The port of Toledo, located just seven miles upriver, was poised to pick up the slack – with the help of Oregon Surplus Property. 

Click here to read about the port of Toledo’s success procuring equipment and supplies through Oregon Surplus Property for a fraction of today’s market cost.