Rob McKenna is serving his second term as Washington's 17th Attorney General. As the state's chief legal officer, he directs 500 attorneys and nearly 700 professional staff providing legal services to state agencies, boards and commissions.
A national leader, McKenna is the vice president of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) in line to become president in 2011-12. He has served:
Vice-President, National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG)
Co-chair of the NAAG tobacco committee (2006-2009)
Co-chair of the NAAG Environment and Energy Committee (2009-present)
Co-chair of the NAAG Intellectual Property Committee (2009-present)
General McKenna’s ongoing priorities are:
Promoting integrity in government by defending the state’s laws, implementing new performance management initiatives in his office and encouraging
open access to government
In 2005, he launched Operation: Allied Against Meth and passed a comprehensive new statewide methamphetamine initiative, formed the Pacific Northwest Precursor Chemical Committee and presented the Operation: Allied Against Meth presentation to nearly 35,000 students from more than 60 schools across Washington. McKenna also granted funds from a recent prescription drug settlement to help underwrite a youth track at the Washington Prevention Summit in 2008 and 2009, including a Spring Forum where the youth could return to share their prevention programs with their peers.
He convened the first Statewide Identity Theft Conference, passed legislation allowing citizens to freeze access to their credit before they become victims of ID theft, and conducted an award-winning multi-city Guard it! Washington tour to help businesses and consumers learn how to protect themselves from fraud.
Under AG McKenna’s leadership, the Office of the Attorney General was the first state agency to implement a performance management plan that rewards high-performing employees who achieve rigorous goals. He has also updated the state’s public records law and developed model rules for public disclosure and electronic records.
McKenna has argued and won two cases before the United States Supreme Court, defending initiatives passed by Washington citizens on campaign reform and the top-two primary.
During his tenure as attorney general, AG McKenna has won numerous honors including:
The Family Online Safety Institute's Outstanding Achievement Award, 2009;
One of Security Magazine's Top 25 Most Influential People in the Security Industry, 2008;
Washington State PTSA “Friend of Children” Award, 2008;
IKeepSafe Internet Safety Award, 2008;
- Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow in Public Leadership, 2006-present;
- President's Award Winner by the Washington State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 2007;
- Freedom's Light Award Winner by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, 2007;
- Key Award Winner by the Washington Coalition for Open Government, 2007;
- Honorary Farmer by the Farmer Consumer Awareness Committee, 2007;
- Envision Award Winner from the WomenSpirit Coalition for work on domestic violence issues, 2007;
- King County Washington Women Lawyers' Special Contribution to the Judiciary Award Winner, 2007;
- One of Washington CEO Magazine’s Most Amazing Attorneys of 2006;
- One of Seattle Magazine’s 26 Most Influential People in Seattle, 2006;
- Outstanding Leader of the Year by the Eastside Domestic Violence Program, 2006; and
- Distinguished Eagle Award Winner by the Boy Scouts of America, 2005.
McKenna received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1988, where he was a member of the Law Review. He earned a B.A. in Economics and a B.A. in International Studies, both with honors, from the University of Washington. McKenna was student body president at the U.W. and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He has been an attorney for 20 years since beginning his career in 1988 at the Bellevue office of Perkins Coie, one of the nation's top 50 law firms. He practiced business and regulatory law at Perkins Coie from June 1988 to January 1996.
In 1995, McKenna was elected to the Metropolitan King County Council. He was re-elected twice without opposition and was twice rated "Outstanding" by the Municipal League.
A committed community leader, McKenna has raised hundreds of thousands for the Eastside Domestic Violence Program and the Bellevue Schools Foundation. An Eagle Scout himself, McKenna continues to serve as a board member with the Chief Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts of America and as president of the Bellevue Community College Foundation.
McKenna, his wife Marilyn and their four children reside in Bellevue.