Denver’s new CISO to bolster cybersecurity awareness

Denver has named Merlin Namuth as the city’s new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Namuth’s remit will be to expand and strengthen the city’s information security programme and to ensure it aligns with industry best practices and regulatory requirements.

Namuth brings over 25 years of extensive cybersecurity experience to the role, having held positions at several prominent organisations including Wells Fargo, Lockheed Martin, and Beazley Security. His key responsibilities will include strategic planning, risk management, internal trainings, and vendor and budget management.

“The City and County of Denver is constantly evaluating its cybersecurity practices and looking for opportunities to mitigate risks,” he told Cities Today. “My first priority is to learn about the systems and processes that are currently in place and the history behind why these decisions were made.”

Namuth has worked in large and complex environments where he introduced new technical security tools and processes that required extensive planning to mitigate any negative effects.

“I have learned if these steps aren’t taken, the security project isn’t successful, and the organisation will be less willing to approve future projects,” he said.

Another lesson he notes is that an effective cybersecurity programme requires support from everyone.

“I like to spend a lot of time building relationships and learning people’s job functions,” he added. “I think it’s important for people to trust the Cybersecurity Team, so they will report incidents and seek guidance on how to perform their job in a secure manner.”

One of his first tasks will be to deepen the city’s already “robust” cybersecurity awareness programme in place for city employees.

“While I’m not sure what this might look like just yet, I’d like to expand and grow that programme,” he said. “I’m hoping to launch this campaign in October 2025 for Cybersecurity Awareness Month.”

He points out that maintaining partnerships with vendors, local and state law enforcement, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, as critical.

“And as for technologies, artificial intelligence is one tool that could help enhance the city’s detection and prevention capabilities,” he added. “When used responsibly and ethically, AI has a lot of innovative potential.”

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