Colorado Appoints New CISO to Lead Office of IT Cyber Efforts

Earlier today, the Colorado Office of Information Technology (OIT) announced that Ray Yepes will be serving as its new chief information security officer.

The nationwide search to fill the position started last August when former OIT CISO Deborah Blyth left to take on an advisory board position at Regis University’s Andersen College of Business and Computing.

Since Blythe’s departure, OIT Chief Customer Officer William Chumley has served as the interim CISO, which will continue until April 25 when Yepes officially starts in the position.

“Ray has such an impressive depth of experience as a cybersecurity professional and executive,” said OIT Executive Director and Chief Information Officer Anthony Neal-Graves in a release. “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.”

Yepes’ experience includes five years as CISO for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. He also co-founded ATX Forensics LLC, a cybersecurity company, served as the CISO of Waste Management Inc. and was 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 explained. “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.”