Phoenix names new Chief Information Security Officer

Mitch Kohlbecker has been appointed the City of Phoenix’s new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

For the last four years, Kohlbecker has served as the city’s Deputy CISO where he drove critical advancements on architecture, engineering, risk management and compliance, improving the organisation’s security posture.

“For the last four years, I’ve led a team that worked tirelessly to build the foundations of an effective and efficient cybersecurity programme and I look forward to continuing that work,” he told Cities Today. “Additionally, having the support of senior leadership made the decision easy.”

Prior to joining the city, Kohlbecker served over two decades in leadership as a Chief Information Security Officer and Senior Director in various organisations across a range of industries, including education, government, non-profit, and Fortune-listed companies.

“The [sector] I’ve always felt the strongest pull to is public service,” he added. “I enjoy the work and I feel a deep sense of responsibility to protecting the city’s technical infrastructure and sensitive data.”

He noted how cybersecurity is a constantly evolving landscape and as such, so are the threats. The main threats he faces are “a three-way tie” between AI-driven social engineering, phishing/quishing campaigns, and sophisticated ransomware attacks, of which municipalities have been more high-profile targets of late.

His first three priorities include establishing stronger lines of communication with federal, state, and municipal cybersecurity resources. Second, continuing to improve the city’s cybersecurity posture and thirdly, developing stronger communications with both city leadership and business partners.

He added: “I believe effective security and business alignment are not mutually exclusive but complementary pursuits that drive overall organisational success.”

Main image: Chris Curtis | Dreamstime.com