Joseph Williams named new director of WWU Cybersecurity Programs

WWU News

On This Page

• WWU Stories
• News Releases and Announcements
• WWU in the News
• Campus News and Information

Joseph Williams named new director of WWU Cybersecurity Programs

July 23, 2026

Joseph Williams has been hired as the new director of Cybersecurity Programs at Western Washington University.

Williams is the past Seattle director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a divisional CTO for Microsoft, the Global Partner in Charge for Infosys Consulting's Cybersecurity Practice, and was named Geekwire's 2025 Public Policy Champion for Innovation.

Besides his work in the private sector, Williams also has almost 20 years of higher-education teaching and administrative experience, most recently as the dean of Seattle Pacific University's School of Business, Government and Economics. He also had faculty positions at Colorado State University, the University of Montana, New Mexico State University, and Bucknell University.

The director is tasked with maintaining Western's nationally recognized cybersecurity programs. This includes oversight of operations and curriculum of the Cybersecurity 2+2 bachelor's degree, which is offered out of Bellingham, Kirkland, and Poulsbo in coordination with 16 community colleges across Washington. The director also will contribute to the Computer Science Department's efforts in sustaining membership in the Department of War's Cyber Service Academy, which currently has nine scholars across two cohorts of cybersecurity students.

Williams will also contribute to efforts to further expand the WWU Cyber Range in Poulsbo, which serves not only the CS Department, but WWU and the greater region as well, through network monitoring and K-12 outreach activities. The Cybersecurity Program at Western is designated a Center of Academic Excellence, sponsored by the National Security Agency; Williams will be an integral part of sustaining that designation as well.

"I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Williams to the Computer Sciences Department. His experience sets the stage for propelling our cybersecurity programs to new heights as we seek to equip and empower our graduates to be successful in exciting careers in a fast-changing technology landscape," said Professor of Computer Sciences and Department Chair Filip Jagodzinski.

WWU Provost Brad Johnson said Williams' extensive experience in the public, private and higher-ed sectors provides an exciting opportunity for both Western's students and the stakeholder partners that the Cybersecurity Program works with across the state and region.

"Our Cybersecurity Program is already viewed as a regional powerhouse in a growing job sector, and we expect the placement of Dr. Williams into this crucial leadership position, particularly given his connections in this space, will only serve to bring it new prominence," said Johnson.

Poulsbo Mayor Ed Stern said Western made the right choice in hiring Williams.

"Who better to help lead cybersecurity programs for WWU than the person working to create internet connectivity here in the Pacific Northwest?" said Stern.

Williams said coming to Western and gaining the job as director was the perfect opportunity at the perfect time.

"I couldn't be more excited to join the faculty at Western Washington University, where I'll get to work alongside colleagues who share my passion for teaching and discovery," said Williams. "This is exactly the kind of community I've been hoping to find - one that values both rigorous scholarship and genuine care for students."

Williams attained his doctorate in Business Management and Information Systems from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987, where he also earned his MBA. He also has a master's degree in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

Find out more about Western's bachelor's degree in cybersecurity here; read about Western's cybersecurity students winning the Pacific Rim Collegiate Cyber Defense competition here.