Virginia’s higher education institutions operate complex digital environments that support research, student services, academic systems, and large-scale public networks. Universities also manage sensitive research data, intellectual property, and personal information, making cybersecurity leadership essential to maintaining trust, compliance, and operational resilience. The professionals below represent cybersecurity leaders helping protect the technology environments that support Virginia’s colleges and universities.
Randy Marchany — Chief Information Security Officer, Virginia Tech
Randy Marchany serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Virginia Tech and Director of the university’s IT Security Laboratory. With more than three decades of experience in cybersecurity, Marchany has played a major role in shaping the broader cybersecurity community through research, education, and policy development.
He is a co-author of the original SANS Institute Top 10 Internet Threats and multiple incident response and security guidance publications. Marchany has also contributed to the development of the CIS Security Controls and helped establish initiatives such as the U.S. Cyber Challenge and the Virginia Cyber Range, which focus on developing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Michael Forster — Chief Information Security Officer, Regent University
Michael Forster serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Regent University, where he leads the institution’s enterprise information security program and cybersecurity strategy. His work focuses on aligning cybersecurity initiatives with the university’s broader mission while ensuring compliance with frameworks such as NIST 800-171, HIPAA, and GDPR.
With more than two decades of experience across education, behavioral health, nonprofit organizations, and private sector environments, Forster is known for translating complex security challenges into practical technical strategies that support institutional growth and resilience.
Travis Edmonds — Chief Information Security Officer, Virginia State University
Travis Edmonds serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Virginia State University, where he oversees cybersecurity strategy and technology security operations supporting the university’s academic and administrative systems. His work focuses on protecting university networks while maintaining secure access to digital learning environments.
Edmonds has spent more than two decades at Virginia State University in various technical leadership roles, including systems administration and technology support. His long tenure has provided deep institutional knowledge that supports the university’s evolving cybersecurity posture.
Bob Burton — Chief Information Security Officer, Radford University
Bob Burton serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Radford University, where he leads the institution’s information security program and cyber risk management initiatives. His responsibilities include developing security policies, overseeing vulnerability management, and strengthening operational security controls across university systems.
Before joining Radford University, Burton held cybersecurity leadership roles in both higher education and enterprise environments, including positions focused on security architecture, risk management, and compliance frameworks such as ISO 27001 and PCI DSS.
Kate Rhodes — Chief Information Security Officer, Old Dominion University
Kate Rhodes is Chief Information Security Officer at Old Dominion University, where she leads cybersecurity strategy and governance across the university’s technology environment. Her responsibilities include managing risk and compliance programs, security architecture, and security operations supporting academic and administrative systems.
Rhodes previously served as Assistant Information Security Officer for Risk and Compliance at Old Dominion University and brings experience from roles in the defense and government contracting sectors.
Ron King — Chief Information Security Officer, Norfolk State University
Ron King serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Norfolk State University, where he leads cybersecurity operations protecting institutional networks and digital resources. His work includes managing enterprise security infrastructure, monitoring cyber threats, and supporting secure access to academic and administrative platforms.
King previously served as Chief Information Security Officer at Morgan State University and has extensive experience across university IT environments. In addition to his leadership roles, he has also served as an adjunct faculty member teaching information technology courses.
Strengthening Cybersecurity Across Virginia’s Universities
Universities operate some of the most complex technology environments in any sector, supporting open research networks, large student populations, and extensive digital services. The cybersecurity leaders featured here play a critical role in protecting academic infrastructure, safeguarding research data, and ensuring institutions can continue advancing education and innovation securely. As higher education continues to expand its digital capabilities, strong cybersecurity leadership will remain essential to maintaining trust, resilience, and operational continuity.
Many public universities collaborate closely with state agencies and federal programs, sharing infrastructure, research partnerships, and compliance frameworks. See how cybersecurity leaders protect government systems and public sector technology environments in CISOs to Watch in Virginia’s Government Administration.