The U.S. East Coast is home to some of the nation’s largest economies, critical infrastructure hubs, and dense concentrations of government, healthcare, and financial institutions. Protecting these assets from growing cyber threats requires visionary leadership. The following State Chief Information Security Officers are shaping the cybersecurity landscape by driving innovation, strengthening resilience, and ensuring the secure delivery of public services across the region.
Colin Ahern — Chief Cyber Officer, State of New York
Colin Ahern, New York State’s first Chief Cyber Officer, is a leading authority in cybersecurity, cyber resilience, and intelligence. He leads cross-agency efforts to safeguard the state’s critical infrastructure and information assets against evolving cyber threats. Ahern’s role involves establishing enterprise-wide strategies, strengthening resilience, and fostering collaboration between agencies to protect the public. His leadership sets a benchmark for state-level cyber operations in one of the nation’s most economically and technologically vital regions.
Anthony J. O’Neill — Commonwealth Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Risk Officer, Massachusetts Executive Office of Technology Services and Security
Anthony J. O’Neill serves as Commonwealth Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Risk Officer, guiding Massachusetts in securing its digital infrastructure and government services. With extensive experience in risk management, cybersecurity governance, and technology strategy, O’Neill aligns cybersecurity initiatives with broader state objectives. His leadership ensures the protection of sensitive government and citizen data while enabling secure digital transformation across agencies. O’Neill’s work strengthens the state’s resilience and positions Massachusetts as a model for public-sector cybersecurity innovation.
Warren Sponholtz — Chief Information Officer, State of Florida
Warren Sponholtz leads enterprise technology strategy for Florida, one of the nation’s largest and most dynamic public-sector environments. He focuses on information technology modernization, cybersecurity resilience, and effective risk management across state and local governments. Sponholtz is known for building strong cross-sector partnerships, integrating infrastructure modernization with security, and driving measurable outcomes. By fostering collaboration among agencies, boards, and private-sector partners, he ensures Florida’s public services remain secure, scalable, and efficient, while advancing innovation in government technology.
Steve Hodges — State Chief Information Security Officer, Georgia Technology Authority
Steve Hodges heads Georgia’s Office of Information Security, providing governance, risk management, and compliance support to state agencies. With deep expertise in system lifecycle management and federal regulatory compliance, Hodges focuses on risk mitigation rather than mere vulnerability management. His work encompasses disaster recovery, business continuity planning, and educating personnel across technical skill levels. Hodges ensures state systems remain secure, available, and effective, demonstrating a practical, risk-based approach to public-sector cybersecurity leadership in Georgia.
James Saunders — Acting State Chief Information Security Officer, Maryland Department of Information Technology
James Saunders bridges technology and business strategy to reduce cyber risk and enable digital transformation in Maryland. With more than fifteen years of experience across finance, technology, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, he has led enterprise-wide Zero Trust adoption, reducing financial fraud by sixty percent, migrated ninety percent of services to the cloud, and integrated artificial intelligence-driven monitoring, improving incident response by forty percent. Saunders works closely with executive leaders to align cybersecurity with mission goals, enhancing resilience, regulatory compliance, and overall operational effectiveness.
Gene Meltser — Chief Information Security Officer, State of Connecticut
Gene Meltser, a recovered hacker turned security leader, serves as Connecticut’s Chief Information Security Officer, overseeing the state’s entire information security program. He focuses on protecting citizens, employees, agencies, and municipalities from cyber threats. Meltser brings decades of information security experience, blending hands-on expertise with strategic leadership. His work emphasizes risk reduction, program maturity, and enabling agencies to deliver secure public services. By mentoring teams and shaping security policies, Meltser ensures Connecticut’s digital ecosystem remains resilient and responsive in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
Charles Rote — Acting Chief Information Security Officer, State of Maine
Charles Rote leads Maine’s cybersecurity initiatives as Acting Chief Information Security Officer, responsible for managing state-level information security operations and strategy. His work includes developing policies, guiding risk management, and assisting agencies with incident response. Rote emphasizes proactive governance, resilience, and the practical application of security principles across technical and non-technical staff. By strengthening Maine’s cybersecurity posture, he helps protect critical infrastructure and public services, ensuring the state’s systems remain reliable, secure, and capable of supporting Maine’s citizens and government operations.
Leading Cybersecurity Across the East Coast
From New York to Maine, these East Coast State Chief Information Security Officers exemplify leadership, vision, and operational excellence in public-sector cybersecurity. Their efforts protect critical infrastructure, enable secure digital transformation, and foster resilience across complex government environments. As cyber threats grow in sophistication, the strategies and innovations of these leaders ensure that East Coast states remain prepared, adaptive, and secure, setting standards for state-level cybersecurity across the nation.