Director, Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES)
Michael Wisehart is an experienced leader with over 24 years of progressive responsibility in State service. He is passionately committed to improving the lives of Arizonans across all walks of life. He returns to the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES) from the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) where he served as the Deputy Director and State Comptroller, overseeing the IT, Accounting, Budget, Procurement, and School Facilities Divisions.
Before serving as Deputy Director for ADOA, he held the position of Interim Director for the Department of Child Safety (DCS) and was previously the Director of ADES. In addition to his three years as Director, Mr. Wisehart served as the Assistant Director for both the Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services and the Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility overseeing the SNAP and Cash Assistance programs in Arizona. Throughout his career, he has served in a variety of other positions within ADES,including the Department’s Chief Financial Officer during the Great Recession.
Playing key roles within ADES during both the COVID-19 pandemic and the prior recession, Mr. Wisehart is a strong problem-solver and collaborative leader focused on supporting Arizonans in need while recognizing the important fiduciary responsibility of the Department. He is a champion for process improvement and staff development and will focus on community partnerships and improving the customer experience for ADES clients and stakeholders.
A native Arizonan, Mr. Wisehart has both an MBA and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Arizona State University and is the proud father of two amazing boys.