Carole Washburn was appointed Deputy Director for Operations by Director Judy Schurke in June 2008.

Previously Carole served as the Executive Secretary for the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission for ten years.

Carole started her state career in 1979 as a budget analyst with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and moved on to work for the House of Representatives in the early 1980’s. After having her first son Carole went back to DSHS to serve as director of Government and Community Affairs.

In 1989 following legislative action to create the Department of Health, she joined the department as the assistant secretary for Infectious and Chronic Diseases and later assistant director for Policy at the State Energy Office. Carole has a BA in business administration and MBA. She has two sons and a step-daughter and lives in Olympia with her husband.