Wolfgang Opitz
Wolfgang Opitz grew up in Everett, Washington.
He has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Washington and a
PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. He was a research scientist
with the Battelle Memorial Institute in Seattle from 1986 to1988, after
which he joined the Washington State Office of Financial Management
(OFM) to do population forecasts, analyze health care costs, and assess
the impacts of major industries on the state's communities.
He was Budget Director for the Washington State Department of Social
and Health Services from 1994-1998 with responsibility for developing
and implementing a $10 billion biennial budget. In 1998 he returned
to OFM as Senior Budget Assistant to the Governor for Education where
he prepared budgets for K-12, higher education, and workforce training.
He has served as Deputy Director of OFM since July 2000 where he works
with 255 forecasting, budget, accounting, information system, labor
relations, and risk management staff.