Arizona’s most populous city has found its next information security leader at City Hall.
Mitch Kohlbecker, a longtime executive, has been promoted to chief information security officer (CISO). He had been serving as deputy CISO.
“I look forward to my continued work in securing the city and its assets and data on behalf of our constituents,” Kohlbecker said in a statement Feb. 7. “Cybersecurity is a critical component of the overall health of city operations, and I’m eager to work with my colleagues to help foster a culture of business innovation and enhancement, done securely.”
City of Phoenix
Kohlbecker served as deputy CISO for nearly five years, since April 2020 according to LinkedIn. Prior to his work with the city, Kohlbecker spent two decades working in information security for a variety of industries including government, the nonprofit sector and education, according to a city press release announcing the appointment.
He replaces Shannon Lawson, who headed to the private sector in October, according to his LinkedIn profile.
As deputy CISO, Kohlbecker helped to advance improvements in risk management and compliance, system architecture and engineering, according to the city.
As the new CISO, he will be charged with safeguarding Phoenix cyber assets and resident information in balance with the city’s operational needs.
His view, the city said in its news release, “is that effective security and business alignment are not mutually exclusive but complementary pursuits that drive overall organizational success.”
