Governor names Oregon Lottery director

Published 10:39 am Friday, August 25, 2023

Michael Wells, a career law enforcement officer who joined the Oregon Lottery in 2019, is now its director.

His appointment by Gov. Tina Kotek is subject to a confirmation vote by the Oregon Senate when it meets at the end of September.

Wells has been the interim director of the Oregon Lottery since December 2022. He joined the agency in April 2019 as a cybercrime manager, and was named in July 2019 as its assistant director of security.

Created by voters in 1984, the Oregon Lottery generates more than $1 billion in each two-year state budget cycle for schools, parks and watersheds, veterans services and economic development. Though the governor names and the Senate confirms the director and the five board members, the Oregon Lottery is overseen by the director and the Lottery Commission.

Kotek said in her announcement: “It is imperative that the director is an experienced leader who will champion transparency and accountability. During his time at the Oregon Lottery, Michael has worked closely with staff, the commission, and stakeholders to lead with the highest standards of security and integrity.”

Wells started in law enforcement as an Oregon State Police cadet from 1994 to 1996. He was a reserve police officer in Independence, and was an officer in the Corvallis Police Department from 1996 to 2008.

Wells was a special agent in the organized crime section of the Oregon Department of Justice from 2008 to 2019. During part of this period (2016-19) he led investigations for the FBI’s Oregon cyber crime task force.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and police science in 1998 from Western Oregon University, and a master’s degree in business administration in 2005 from the University of Phoenix.

Wells has been a member of Cyber Oregon, Oregon’s Cybersecurity Advisory Council, and is a board member of the Oregon Peace Officer Association. He has sat on the Public Safety Fund Memorial Board, the Police Policy Committee and the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training Committee.

His statement attached to Kotek’s announcement:

“During my tenure as interim director, I’ve had the privilege of leading an exceptional team dedicated to ensuring the lottery’s ongoing support of its beneficiaries and key programs across our state. I appreciate Gov. Kotek’s trust in my leadership and look forward to leading the work of the Oregon Lottery in funding critical programs that serve Oregonians.”

pwong@pamplinmedia.com