Jess C. Jamieson, Ph.D., a 20-year veteran of Washington state’s mental health services delivery system, has been selected as chief executive officer at Western State Hospital, Washington’s largest psychiatric hospital.

The appointment is effective May 18.

Dr. Jamieson most recently was chief executive officer of Alliance Behavioral Health Care in Everett. From 1995 to 2007 he was president and chief executive officer of COMPASS Health, which offers mental health provider services in four counties north of Seattle. He also worked as acting chief executive officer for Community Mental Health Services in Mount Vernon from 2001 to 2002, and he served two terms on the Western State Hospital Advisory Board.

The hospital serves about 1,000 patients with a staff of nearly 2,000. It is one of three state psychiatric hospitals, which include Eastern State Hospital near Spokane and the Child Study and Treatment Center, also located in Lakewood adjacent to Western State.

Dr. Jamieson began his academic career at the University of Wyoming, where he graduated in1969. He earned a master’s in health care administration at Des Moines University in Iowa, and received his doctorate in social foundations (organizational psychology) at the University of Iowa in 1976.