Brian Bennett has been appointed director of Washington's lottery by Gov. Bob Ferguson effective Wednesday.
"Brian's extensive and diverse leadership experience makes him well-suited for this role," Ferguson said. "As director of Washington's lottery, he will help deliver an excellent experience for players and generate revenue that funds critical services in Washington."
Bennett's previous public service includes serving as mayor and a City Council member for the city of Burien.
He also worked 16 years at the global technology company, F5, Inc.
Most recently, he was a vice president in F5's legal department, managing a team that supported sales and operations. Bennett previously practiced law in Seattle, working with clients on technology, government, immigration and health care issues.
"I'm really excited to return to public service with the state of Washington as the director of the Washington lottery," Bennett said. "I hope that my experience in public and private enterprises will be helpful to the lottery's continued success."
Earlier in his career, Bennett worked as a legislative assistant in the Washington State Senate. He also chaired the Burien Shoreline Advisory Committee and served on Burien's Planning Commission.
In his free time, Bennett volunteers for the Ukrainian Association of Washington State.
He also worked for a nonprofit environmental law firm in Ukraine and spent a year teaching English in Moscow, Russia.
Bennett is a graduate of the University of Washington, where he earned a degree in comparative literature. He earned his law degree from New York University.
