June 16, 2026

City of Seattle

Smith

The city of Seattle welcomes Shannon Smith as its new chief technology officer. Joining Mayor Katie B. Wilson's leadership team, Smith will play a pivotal role in advancing the administration's commitment to transparency, accountability, and community-centered service.

Smith has led local government technology for over 18 years in Seattle, Bellevue, and King County. She has been noted nationally for her expertise in AI, data governance, and cybersecurity for local government leadership by the National Association of Counties, and she has spoken on these topics at various national and state organizations.

Smith brings over a decade of deep expertise in government technology to her new role. Most recently, she served as director of Public Sector — Local Government — at CAI, where she led strategic planning and implementation of cutting-edge initiatives in cybersecurity, AI, and health and human services across city and county agencies. She is also a certified government chief information officer (CGCIO), a nationally recognized executive leadership program designed to address some of the most critical issues facing public sector technology leaders.

As chief of staff for the King County chief information officer, she was accountable for all technology implemented during the King County-Seattle Public Health's COVID-19 response.

The CTO reports to the mayor and serves on the mayor's cabinet, with overall responsibility for vision, strategy, and leadership of information technology resources, as well as for the management of the work of Seattle IT. The Seattle IT department employs 633 people, and the CTO is responsible for an annual operating budget of $280 million with a capital budget of $20 million.