Press Release: DOA Secretary Blumenfeld Makes Deputy Secretary Announcement

STATE OF WISCONSIN

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION

Tony Evers, Governor

Kathy Blumenfeld, Secretary

DOA Secretary Blumenfeld Makes Deputy Secretary Announcement

Madison, Wis. – Today, Department of Administration Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld announced the appointment of Paul Hammer to serve as DOA’s Deputy Secretary, following the departure of Deputy Secretary Chris Patton on Aug. 1. Patton has been named Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

“The departure of Chris Patton, a trusted colleague and partner, and an award-winning administrator, is a bittersweet moment for DOA and the State of Wisconsin,” Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld said. “Chris leaves an indelible mark on DOA, but he will be an amazing leader at UW-Platteville. I am very grateful for his continued service to our state and am pleased at the opportunity to welcome another seasoned leader to the team.”

Patton has served as DOA’s Deputy Secretary since 2019, during which time he has overseen the development of three state biennial budgets and the construction, leasing, and maintenance of nearly 2,000 projects at 6,700 state facilities, helped manage the State’s COVID-19 pandemic response, including coordinating efforts at the State Emergency Operations Center and distributing federal funds, and offered strategic leadership on post-pandemic IT and workforce modernization efforts. Patton was recognized with the National Distinguished Deputy Award from the National Association of State Chief Administrators (NASCA) in 2022. He first joined DOA in 1998, where he served nearly eight years in the Division of Gaming.

Paul Hammer has served as Deputy Secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation since 2019, a role he also held from 2015 to 2016. During his tenure as WisDOT’s Deputy Secretary, Hammer served as the agency’s Chief Operating Officer, managing the State’s transportation systems and overseeing a staff of 3,200 employees and a budget exceeding $7 billion. He also supported the State’s pandemic response in the areas of emergency procurement and community vaccination clinics. Previously, Hammer spent 15 years in WisDOT’s budget office, including more than four years as its director. Hammer began his state service at the Legislative Audit Bureau and served as a leader within the Department of Natural Resources.

“Paul Hammer brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will serve the State well,” Sec. Blumenfeld said. “His expertise in State budgeting, procurement, and personnel management and his commitment to public service will no doubt advance DOA’s mission to deliver effective and efficient services to government agencies and the public and I’m excited to work with him.”

Hammer will join the DOA leadership team on Aug. 2.