Government agencies manage vast amounts of sensitive information and operate critical public services that must remain secure and resilient. From state departments to federal agencies and municipal governments, cybersecurity leaders in Maryland’s public sector play a crucial role in protecting citizen data, maintaining regulatory compliance, and defending government systems against increasingly sophisticated threats. The professionals below are helping strengthen cybersecurity across Maryland’s government administration landscape.
Chris Houseknecht — Chief Information Security Officer, Comptroller of Maryland
Chris Houseknecht serves as Chief Information Security Officer for the Comptroller of Maryland, where he leads cybersecurity strategy and digital forensics initiatives for the state’s financial administration systems. With nearly three decades of experience in cyber investigations, counterintelligence, and technical operations, he brings deep expertise in threat analysis and incident response.
Houseknecht’s background includes extensive work in digital forensics, advanced persistent threat investigations, and cloud security operations. His leadership focuses on strengthening government cybersecurity programs while ensuring investigative capabilities and threat mitigation strategies remain aligned with evolving cyber risks.
Demonique Lewis — Chief Information Security Officer, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Demonique Lewis serves as Chief Information Security Officer for the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, he leads cybersecurity strategy, privacy oversight, and risk management across systems that support national healthcare programs.
Lewis oversees a large cybersecurity program including security operations, compliance initiatives, and enterprise risk management. He manages a multi-million dollar cybersecurity budget while advising senior government leadership on security posture, policy alignment, and risk-based decisions across the agency’s digital environment.
Jonathan Feibus — Chief Information Security Officer, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Jonathan Feibus is Chief Information Security Officer at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, where he leads cybersecurity and information technology risk management for systems supporting nuclear regulatory operations. With nearly 30 years of experience in both the private and public sectors, Feibus specializes in developing pragmatic technology solutions that align security controls with operational needs.
His work focuses on balancing cybersecurity protections with mission-critical government services, ensuring systems remain secure while enabling efficient regulatory oversight.
Matthew Otwell — Chief Information Security Officer, Maryland Department of Health
Matthew Otwell serves as Chief Information Security Officer for the Maryland Department of Health, where he leads the enterprise security program supporting one of the state’s largest public agencies. His responsibilities include overseeing risk management, vulnerability management, security awareness, and incident response across systems that support healthcare services for millions of Maryland residents.
Otwell’s work ensures compliance with federal and state security requirements while aligning security operations with frameworks such as NIST 800-53, CIS controls, and other regulatory standards.
Bob Taylor — Chief Information Security Officer, City of Baltimore
Bob Taylor serves as Chief Information Security Officer for the City of Baltimore, where he oversees cybersecurity strategy protecting municipal infrastructure and public service systems. His work focuses on strengthening security governance, cloud security oversight, and third-party risk management across city technology platforms.
Before joining the City of Baltimore, Taylor held cybersecurity leadership roles at JPMorgan Chase, where he worked on cloud migration initiatives and security programs supporting digital banking platforms. His experience across both private and public sectors helps guide Baltimore’s cybersecurity modernization efforts.
Greg Yaculak — Deputy Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer, Maryland Health Benefit Exchange
Greg Yaculak serves as Deputy Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, where he leads cybersecurity strategy for the state’s health insurance marketplace systems. His responsibilities include protecting large-scale public digital platforms that manage sensitive healthcare and financial data.
Yaculak previously served as Chief Information Security Officer for the Maryland Department of Human Resources, bringing more than a decade of leadership experience in state government cybersecurity programs.
Diane Kopke — Chief Information Security Officer and Quality Management Leader, State of Maryland
Diane Kopke is a cybersecurity and governance leader within the State of Maryland, focusing on information security management, regulatory compliance, and operational risk programs. With more than 25 years of experience in information security and technology operations, she has helped design policies, procedures, and security frameworks that align technical controls with organizational objectives.
Her expertise includes business continuity planning, disaster recovery programs, and governance frameworks that support secure government operations across multiple public sector environments.
Cybersecurity Leadership Across Maryland’s Public Sector
Cybersecurity in government administration requires balancing operational continuity, regulatory requirements, and the protection of sensitive citizen data. The leaders featured here are helping Maryland’s public institutions strengthen cyber resilience while modernizing the technology environments that support public services.
Public sector cybersecurity increasingly relies on partnerships with technology providers and government contractors that support mission-critical systems. Explore how security leaders protect those platforms in CISOs to Watch in Maryland’s Information Technology Industry.