The State of Colorado has appointed Ray Yepes as its next chief information security officer (CISO), the Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) announced in a press release.
Yepes will start his new role as CISO on April 25. Until then, OIT Chief Customer Officer William Chumley will continue to serve as the interim CISO.
After a nationwide search, Yepes was selected for his experience working in private industry and as the CISO for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services for five years.
“Ray has such an impressive depth of experience as a cybersecurity professional and executive,” OIT Executive Director and Chief Information Officer Anthony (Tony) Neal-Graves said. “His ability to influence a sustainable security culture, foster change, and develop people and relationships will enhance the protection of our state’s IT systems and data.”
Prior to his work in Texas, Yepes co-founded and was the director of ATX Forensics LLC, a full-service cybersecurity company. He also served as the CISO for Waste Management, Inc., and as vice president of professional services at CyberEvidence, Inc.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead the state’s security strategy and build upon Colorado’s mature and well-developed security program,” Yepes said. “I look forward to embracing the Colorado lifestyle while doing what I love most: building a strong security culture and serving agency partners and residents by protecting the state’s technology infrastructure.”
