Welcome to the Department of Administration's Web Site

The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) was created in 1959 to consolidate various independent units into a single agency. DOA offers direct services to Wisconsin residents and communities, including assistance with housing and energy efficiency improvements, but its primary function is to deliver a wide range of support services to other state agencies, such as maintaining the State Capitol and other state facilities.

The department is headed by a secretary appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the state senate. In addition to the Office of the Secretary, DOA is organized into nine divisions. Several small agencies, boards and commissions are also attached to DOA for administrative purposes.

One of DOA's chief duties is to analyze administrative and fiscal issues facing the state and offer alternative solutions to the governor and other policy makers. As the state agency that coordinates development of the biennial state budget and provides a wide range of services to other state agencies, we are involved with virtually every aspect of public administration, including:

• Advise the Governor on education, human service, environmental, economic and other state policy issues;
• Oversee the design, construction, operation and maintenance of state-owned buildings;
• Promote the wise use of energy resources;
• Regulate charitable and Indian gaming;
• Track population trends;
• Deliver efficient transportation, procurement, risk management and other support services; and
• Promote improved land-use planning and community development.

The following overview highlights these and other services offered by DOA.

Office of the Secretary
Mike Huebsch, Secretary
Chris Schoenherr, Deputy Secretary
Wendy Coomer, Executive Assistant

DOA is headed by a Secretary appointed by the Governor with the advise and consent of the Senate. The Secretary formulates departmental policies and supervises the implementation of duties assigned to the department under Chapter 16 of the Wisconsin Statutes. The Secretary also works closely with the Governor to direct all Executive Branch agencies to develop and implement statewide goals, especially in the areas of financial and program management. The Secretary also serves as an ex-officio member of various state boards and other bodies, including the State of Wisconsin Investment Board and the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority Board.

The Office of the Secretary also includes the department's Chief Legal Counsel.

Division of Administrative Services
James Langdon, Administrator

The Division of Administrative Services provides numerous support services to the department, including personnel, records and forms management, space and property management, financial management, printing, purchasing, mail and management planning. It develops management information systems, prepares and monitors the department's operating budget, advises the secretary on policies and procedures, and performs internal audits. It also administers compensation for all district attorneys and their staff attorneys.

Division of Capitol Police
David Erwin,  Chief

The Division of Capitol Police is comprised of seven work units - Investigative Court Services, Dignitary Services, Police & Security, a Bike Unit, Horse Patrol, the State Safety Office and a Communication Unit that handles alarms and calls for service. The Capitol Police have officers working in Madison and other state locations. The workforce consists of 40 full time sworn police officers, 10 full time non-sworn employees.

Division of Energy Services
Kevin Vesperman, Administrator

The Division of Energy Services administers statewide low income household energy assistance programs involving electric and heating bill payment assistance, as well as benefits and services to assist with energy crisis situations. Eligible households may also receive weatherization and conservation services. These programs are delivered to qualifying households through county Departments of Health and Human Services, community-action agencies, tribal governments, and other non-profit organizations. The Division of Energy Services also includes the State Energy Office which competes for federal resources on behalf of Wisconsin businesses and administers thirteen federal funding programs for the state. The office assists businesses, researchers and local governments in energy project financing; prepares the official state energy production and consumption statistics; prepares the state Energy Assurance Plan; and carries out certain Homeland Security Plan responsibilities.

Division of Enterprise Operations
Helen McCain, Administrator

Division of Enterprise Technology
David Cagigal, Chief Information Officer

Division of Executive Budget & Finance
Brian Hayes, Administrator

The Division of Executive Budget and Finance provides fiscal and policy analysis to the governor for development of executive budget proposals and assists agencies in the technical preparation of budget requests. It reviews legislation and prepares or coordinates the fiscal estimates that accompany all expenditure bills. It also advises the State of Wisconsin Building Commission and the governor on the issuance of state debt and administers finances for the clean water revolving loan fund program. The division provides program and management evaluation, maintains the management information system for authorized state employee positions and keeps the governor's appointments register. It also established accounting policies and procedures, maintains the state's central payroll and accounting systems, monitors agency internal control procedures and produces the state's annual fiscal and financial reports.

Division of Gaming
Steve Knudson, Administrator

The Division of Gaming regulates and administers the activities related to on-track pari-mutuel racing, wagering and simulcasting; charitable bingo and raffle events, crane games and the conduct of Class III Indian Gaming, pursuant to the State/Tribal Gaming Compacts. In the area of pari-mutuel wagering and racing activities, the division is responsible for the issuance of the ownership and management licenses for the racetracks, occupational licenses of all participants, animal drug testing for prohibited substances, revenue and tax monitoring of collections from the monies wagered at the racetracks and the oversight of the humane treatment of the racing animals including the administration of the Adopt-a-Greyhound program. Regulation of Indian gaming is framed by gaming compacts agreed to by the state and the various tribes and is intended to assure games are operated fairly and honestly by both the tribes and players, including on-site compliance audits of the tribal gaming facilities.

Division of Hearings and Appeals 
David Schwarz, Administrator

The Division of Hearings and Appeals conducts quasi-judicial hearings for several state agencies, including contested administrative proceedings, probation revocations and other matters.

Division of Housing
Lisa Marks, Administrator

Division of Intergovernmental Relations
Ed Eberle, Administrator

The Division of Intergovernmental Relations provides a broad array of services to the public and state, local and tribal governments. It supports counties, municipalities, citizens and businesses by providing support services in land use planning, land information and records modernization, municipal boundary review, plat review, demography and coastal management programs. DIR also works to strengthen the relationship between the state of Wisconsin and the governments of the state's 11 Native American Tribes.

Office of Business Development
Joe Knilans, Director
Nancy Mistele, Director

Division of State Facilities
Summer Shannon-Bradley, Administrator

The Division of State Facilities oversees the design, construction, management and maintenance of state facilities and related physical assets. The division staffs the State of Wisconsin Building Commission and assists in the development and implementation of the State Building Program. The division also operates thirty major state-owned buildings located throughout the state including the State Capitol, the Executive Residence and state office buildings in Madison, Milwaukee and five other Wisconsin cities. The division is responsible for facilities planning and evaluation, real estate acquisition, architectural and engineering design and consultation, management and field supervision of construction projects, heating plant fuel management, leasing of private space, office space planning, and engineering services.

Click here for the Department of Administration Organizational Charts