ARCHIVE - DENNIS BRADDOCK bio

DENNIS BRADDOCK
Department of Social and Health Services
Olympia, Washington 98504
P.O. Box 45010
(360) 902-7800 return to Syllabus

Dennis Braddock

Introductory Statement

Dennis Braddock was appointed Secretary of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services by Governor Gary Locke on July 1, 2000.

He began his public service career in 1963 when he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Pakistan. Following that, he served four years in the U.S. Army - one of those years as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam.

Dennis was elected to the Bellingham City Council in 1974 and served for eight years. From 1983 to 1992, he served in the State House of Representatives and was Chair of the House Health Care Committee.

Prior to becoming Secretary, Dennis was the Chief Executive Officer of Community Health Plan of Washington and Community Health Network of Washington, a network of more than 160 community and migrant health centers and affiliate primary care clinics throughout the state.

DSHS is the state’s largest agency with 18,000 employees. The department serves more than a million people each year in Washington, including children, families, the elderly, troubled youth, people with disabilities, and others in times of need.

July 2000 – Present Chief Executive Officer of Washington State government’s largest agency with more than 18,000 employees, offices in all 39 counties, and an annual budget of $7 billion. Responsible for social programs including economic and medical assistance, children’s services, mental health, developmental disabilities, juvenile rehabilitation, aging and adult services and vocational rehabilitation.

1993 – 2000 Chief Executive Officer of Community Health Plan of Washington and Community Health Network of Washington, a network of more than 160 community and migrant health centers and affiliates, primary care clinics throughout Washington State

1983 – 1992 Elected Representative, Washington State House of Representatives. Chair, House Health Care Committee

1974 – 1982 Elected member, City Council, Bellingham, Washington

1973 – 1992 Principal in Land Use and Environmental Consulting Firm

1968 – 1972 U.S. Army Officer, aviator, service in Vietnam

1963 – 1965 Peace Corps Volunteer, service in Pakistan

Boards and Commissions

Commissioner, "Task Force on the Future of Health Insurance for Working Americans," The Commonwealth Fund
National Advisory Committee, "Communities in Charge," Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Advisory Board, "California Rural Indian Health Board," Managed Care Plan
Board Member, "National Organization of Health Center Affiliated, Managed Care Plans"
Member, "Managed Care Pricing Forum," Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc.
Chair, State Board of Health, State of Washington
Steering Committee, "King County Health Acton Plan"

Education BA, Political Science, Washington State University. Graduate studies, Environmental Planning and Public Administration, Western Washington University