August 24, 2023 3:00 a.m. 

On Wednesday, Governor Tina Kotek announced that Michael Wells, interim director of the Oregon Lottery, has been appointed to lead the agency as permanent director, pending confirmation by the Oregon Senate in September.

A release from the Governor’s office said the director serves as the Secretary and Executive Director of the Oregon Lottery Commission and is responsible for the administration and management of the agency.

Wells has held the interim director position since last December. Previously, he held positions in leadership at the Oregon Lottery as the Assistant Director for Security and Compliance and as Cyber Crime Manager.

Prior to joining the Oregon Lottery, Wells spent more than twenty-four years working in local, state, and federal law enforcement. That included as a special agent for the Oregon Department of Justice and as a member of the FBI’s Cyber Crime Task Force.