New Hampshire Appoints Pamela McLeod as New Chief Information Security Officer

What happened

New Hampshire appointed Pamela McLeod as its new chief information security officer, with the transition set for April 17. State CIO Denis Goulet said McLeod will report to him and replace Ken Weeks, who became CISO in June 2022 and has since taken a private-sector role as national security adviser at The ATOM Group. McLeod joins from ACT, where she served as director of cybersecurity. Her background also includes time as CISO for the Concord School District in New Hampshire. Goulet said McLeod has already been a leader and partner in the state’s whole-of-state cybersecurity effort, and described her public-sector technology experience and cybersecurity expertise as strong fits for the role. 

Who is affected

The direct impact falls on New Hampshire state government and its cybersecurity leadership structure. The change also affects the state’s broader whole-of-state cybersecurity approach, which relies on coordination across departments and agencies to strengthen digital defense. 

Why CISOs should care

This appointment matters because it places a security leader with both public-sector and enterprise cybersecurity experience into a statewide role tied to coordinated cyber defense. It also shows how states are continuing to build cyber leadership around cross-agency collaboration rather than treating cybersecurity as a standalone IT function. 

3 practical actions

1. Use leadership transitions to strengthen cyber coordination: Treat a new CISO appointment as an opportunity to tighten cross-agency alignment around statewide cyber priorities. 
2. Value public-sector cyber experience in statewide roles: Recognize the advantage of security leaders who understand both enterprise cybersecurity and government operating environments. 
3. Build cyber programs beyond one office: Support a whole-of-state model where multiple agencies and departments contribute to digital defense rather than relying on a single team alone. 

For more news about cybersecurity leadership moves and public-sector security strategy, click Cybersecurity to read more.