St. Louis continues to grow as a cybersecurity hub supported by leaders who guide security programs in healthcare, education, finance and the public sector. These ten CISOs and security executives stand out for how they build strong defenses, lead high pressure teams and influence the region’s security maturity.
Adam Holland – CISO to Watch in St. Louis Healthcare Security
Vice President of Cybersecurity and CISO, Ascension
Adam leads cybersecurity for one of the nation’s largest healthcare systems. He directs enterprise wide protection and strengthens security across complex clinical environments.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamholland/
Zach Lewis – Leading Cybersecurity in St. Louis Higher Education
CIO and CISO, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
Zach oversees technology and security for an academic and healthcare research community. He focuses on keeping core systems available while maintaining strong controls.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharylewis1/
Chris Shull – Driving University Cybersecurity at Washington University
CISO, Washington University in St. Louis
Chris leads governance, resilience and security awareness for one of the region’s top universities. His work strengthens data protection and campus wide risk management.
Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceshull/
Scott D. – Strengthening Public Sector Security in St. Louis
CISO and Head of Information Security Services, REJIS
Scott secures law enforcement and public safety operations through precise and disciplined security practices. His work supports sensitive justice focused systems.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyberdefenseciso/
Dan Schimpf – St. Louis Risk and Security Expert
Security and Risk Leader
Dan is known for his work in risk, compliance and security strategy. He contributes to local security networks and supports organizations working to improve their security posture.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drschimpf/
Rob Black – Fractional CISO Supporting St. Louis Businesses
Founder and CEO, Fractional CISO
Rob advises mid sized and growing companies that need seasoned leadership. His work helps organizations adopt mature processes and reduce operational risk.
Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blackrob/
John Newcomer – Enterprise Information Security Leader in St. Louis
Senior Vice President, Information Security
John plays a central role in financial sector security and regularly contributes to local events. His work focuses on enterprise risk and operational defense.
Event reference: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnewcomer-infosec/
Jonathan Kimmitt – Identity and Governance Leader in St. Louis Cybersecurity
Security Leader and Regional Speaker
Jonathan participates in St. Louis cybersecurity events and panels. He brings strong insight into identity, governance and program maturity.
Event reference: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-kimmitt/
St. Louis continues to strengthen its position in cybersecurity thanks to leaders who push security programs forward and raise standards across the region. These CISOs represent the talent shaping the city’s future in defense, resilience and risk management. Their work supports critical sectors and influences how organizations across the Midwest prepare for an evolving threat landscape.