Tara Smith

Tara has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the public sector. Governor Jay Inslee appointed Tara C. Smith as Director of the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) in September 2021, and she was confirmed by the Washington Senate on March 2, 2022.  As a member of the Governor’s Executive Cabinet, Tara drives the mission of DES to strengthen the business of government.

With more than 900 employees across many diverse business lines, DES delivers cost-effective central support services that meet the needs of customers throughout state and local governments, so they can focus on their core missions.  Tara oversees DES’s $300 million operating budget, and a capital program of $1.2 billion through many different programs, including centralized procurement, facilities management, real estate, printing, and mailing, and more; and is responsible for the care and custody of the country’s largest state capitol campus in Olympia, Washington.

Tara is a dedicated mentor and advocate for social justice, equity, and inclusion of minorities, and for women in leadership roles. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social work and a Master of Public Administration from Florida International University, where she was recently awarded the Public Service Distinguished Alumni Award. She serves on the Board of Girl Scouts of Western Washington, and volunteers as a troop leader.

Tara lives in Steillacoom with her life partner, Monica. While she spends most of her free time in volunteer work, she also enjoys yoga and is a certified yoga teacher.