Denver’s cybersecurity landscape is expanding fast. The city is home to leaders who guide security programs across government, healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, education, and retail. These CISOs manage high levels of risk and shape how organizations defend data, protect operations, and build trust.
This list highlights 10 CISOs in Denver who stand out for their leadership, influence, and work across critical industries.
Merlin Namuth
CISO, City and County of Denver
Merlin Namuth leads cybersecurity for the City and County of Denver. He brings more than two decades of experience across the public and private sectors. His role covers citywide security strategy, risk management, vendor oversight, and internal training. He focuses on strong collaboration across departments and a people first approach to cybersecurity.
Ray Yepes
CISO, State of Colorado
Ray Yepes heads cybersecurity for the State of Colorado through the Office of Information Technology. He is recognized globally for his leadership in information security and guides the statewide strategy for risk, compliance, and resilience. He promotes a culture where every employee plays a role in protecting systems and data.
Edgar Acosta
CISO, Frontier Airlines
Edgar Acosta is a seasoned CISO with experience across high stakes industries. At Frontier Airlines he oversees security in a highly regulated environment where safety and uptime matter. He is also active in the Denver CISO Community, where he contributes to collaboration and knowledge sharing across the region.
Craig Buesing
CISO, Gates Corporation
Craig Buesing leads security for Gates Corporation, a major industrial and manufacturing company. His work focuses on protecting operations, supply chains, and intellectual property. He is part of the Denver CISO Community Governing Body and helps shape peer engagement and leadership development in the local security ecosystem.
Mark Campbell
CISO, Global Medical Response
Mark Campbell manages cybersecurity for Global Medical Response, one of the country’s largest emergency services organizations. His work spans compliance, critical systems protection, and patient data security. He also participates in Denver’s CISO leadership community, which brings healthcare and emergency services into broader cybersecurity discussions.
Randall Frietzsche
Chief Security Officer, Denver Health
Randall Frietzsche oversees cybersecurity and risk management at Denver Health. He has received recognition in national cybersecurity circles and brings deep expertise in healthcare security, including regulatory requirements and patient safety considerations. His leadership helps Denver Health strengthen defenses across clinical and administrative systems.
Steven Lovaas
CISO, Colorado State University
Steven Lovaas leads cybersecurity for Colorado State University. He works across academic, research, and administrative environments that involve diverse users and sensitive data. His leadership supports the security of large scale education and research operations within Colorado and the wider region.
Shawn McGhee
CISO, Saks Global
Shawn McGhee manages cybersecurity for Saks Global and represents the retail sector within the Denver CISO Community. His work focuses on payment security, data protection, supply chain risk, and compliance in a fast moving commercial environment. His role highlights the importance of security in modern retail.
Mike Villis
CISO, World Kinect
Mike Villis leads cybersecurity at World Kinect, a major energy and commodities company. He oversees the protection of systems that connect physical infrastructure with global operations. His work addresses compliance, resilience, and risk in a sector where cyber incidents can have real world impacts.
Ashley Bolton
CISO, Jefferson County, Colorado
Ashley Bolton is the CISO for Jefferson County and a long standing contributor to Denver’s cybersecurity community. She has managed security for municipal level departments and continues to support local government cybersecurity efforts. Her work strengthens the region’s public sector defenses and adds valuable perspective to Denver’s CISO network.
Denver is home to cybersecurity leaders who guide strategy across many sectors. These CISOs strengthen local resilience, support collaboration, and help organizations respond to growing threats. Their combined expertise shapes the direction of cybersecurity in Denver and sets a strong example for the wider region.