Sipe comes from AWS, where he was security practice leader for strategic accounts, according to his LinkedIn, and he previously served as an IT security executive for digital communications and marketing company MessageBird. Sipe brings private-sector experience leading cybersecurity and compliance for global companies across a number of industries, including building technology, hospitality and entertainment, weather and environmental monitoring and others, per a state press release.
Sipe will officially start in the new role on Nov. 27. He isn’t the only recent C-suite appointment: Pennsylvania hired its CIO in July.
As CISO, Sipe will be charged with defending the state IT systems and data, and maintaining executive branch agencies’ cybersecurity posture, strategy and standards. Among other responsibilities, he’ll oversee risk management and vulnerability and threat management, security awareness outreach, identity and access management and forensic investigations.
His work won’t just focus on state government, but also include providing shared cybersecurity services to local governments. His office will collaborate with local government associations and other state agencies to maintain and expand such services, as part of a strategy created under the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.
