Western Washington University has hired Joseph Williams as the new director of its Cybersecurity Programs, bringing a resume that spans Microsoft, the U.S. Department of Energy, and nearly two decades of higher education leadership. Williams succeeds in a role that oversees one of the most recognized cybersecurity programs in the Pacific Northwest, a designation the university holds from the National Security Agency.
Who Joseph Williams Is
Williams arrives at WWU with a career path that cuts across the private sector, federal government, and academia. He served as the Seattle director of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a major U.S. Department of Energy research facility, and as a divisional chief technology officer at Microsoft. He also held the position of Global Partner in Charge for Infosys Consulting's Cybersecurity Practice, a global consulting role focused on enterprise security. In 2025, GeekWire named him its Public Policy Champion for Innovation.
Before accepting the WWU post, Williams was serving as the dean of Seattle Pacific University's School of Business, Government and Economics, adding higher education administration to his industry experience. He has also held faculty positions at Colorado State University, the University of Montana, New Mexico State University, and Bucknell University. His doctorate in Business Management and Information Systems is from the University of Texas at Austin, where he also earned his MBA. He holds 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.
"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," Williams said. "This is exactly the kind of community I've been hoping to find, one that values both rigorous scholarship and genuine care for students."
What the Director Role Covers
The director of Cybersecurity Programs at Western Washington University oversees a portfolio that extends well beyond the main Bellingham campus. The program's Cybersecurity 2+2 bachelor's degree, which allows students to complete their first two years at one of 16 community colleges across Washington before finishing at WWU, is offered at three sites: Bellingham, Kirkland, and Poulsbo. That structure makes it one of the more accessible pathways into a cybersecurity career in the state, designed to reach students who may not be able to relocate to Bellingham for a four-year degree.
Williams will also oversee WWU's participation in the Department of War's Cyber Service Academy, which currently has nine scholars enrolled across two cohorts. The academy pathway trains students for careers in national cybersecurity roles and carries a service commitment after graduation. The program has grown steadily in recent years as federal agencies have increased recruitment from regional universities.
A third area of responsibility involves the WWU Cyber Range in Poulsbo, a hands-on training environment for network defense and attack simulation. The range serves not only WWU's Computer Science Department but also the broader region through network monitoring support and K-12 outreach activities. Expanding the range's capabilities and community reach is one of the stated goals for the director role.
Why It Matters for Bellingham and the Region
Cybersecurity is one of the faster-growing employment sectors in Washington State, and WWU's program has built a reputation for placing graduates into competitive roles. The program's NSA designation as a Center of Academic Excellence, a status that requires sustained academic rigor and curriculum alignment with federal standards, is a significant differentiator that Williams will be responsible for maintaining.
WWU Provost Brad Johnson said the hire represents an opportunity to build on that foundation. "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," Johnson said.
Professor Filip Jagodzinski, chair of the Computer Sciences Department, echoed that assessment. "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," Jagodzinski said.
Poulsbo Mayor Ed Stern, whose city hosts the Cyber Range, also weighed in: "Who better to help lead cybersecurity programs for WWU than the person working to create internet connectivity here in the Pacific Northwest?"
More information about Western's cybersecurity bachelor's degree program is available on the WWU Computer Science Department website. For context on other recent WWU news, see earlier coverage of a WWU urban planning student's recent national recognition. Information on the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where Williams previously led the Seattle office, is available at pnnl.gov.
