Kick-off presentation
Description
Cybersecurity Awareness Month, launched in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance, is an annual campaign held every October to educate individuals and organizations about the importance of online safety. Over the years, it has evolved to address modern cyber threats, from phishing attacks to ransomware, while promoting essential practices like strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.
Speakers
Gwen Gann
State Chief Information Security Officer
WaTech
Gwen Gann serves as Washington state’s Chief Information Security Officer, leading the State Office of Cybersecurity at Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech). In this role, she helps set the strategic direction for cybersecurity across state government and works with agencies and partners to strengthen Washington’s security posture, manage cyber risk and protect the systems and information Washingtonians rely on.
Gann brings more than 30 years of technology leadership experience across healthcare, financial management and health and human services organizations.
Before joining WaTech, she served as technology director at HealthFirst and previously spent more than six years as Chief Information Officer at Public Partnerships. Throughout her career, she has led technology organizations, built and strengthened security programs, managed complex technology environments and focused on using technology to improve organizational resilience and service delivery. Gann holds a Master of Business Administration from Clark University and a bachelor’s degree in political science and pre-law from Washington State University.
As State CISO, she is focused on collaboration, accountability and building a strong culture of security across Washington state government.
Bill Kehoe
State Chief Information Officer and WaTech Director
WaTech
William “Bill” Kehoe joined Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) as the Director and State CIO for Washington on August 1, 2021.
Prior to WaTech, Bill was the Chief Information Officer for Los Angeles County in California from 2017-2021, where he managed enterprise security, information management, enterprise architecture and technology consulting services for 37 county departments. He also served as an advisor to the Board of Supervisors and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) regarding enterprise technology strategy, policy, and governance.
Bill has a long history of managing information technology departments in local and state governments, including more than 15 years in Washington state agencies and counties. Before working as CIO for Los Angeles County, he held the Chief Information Officer and Information Department Director for King County from 2010-2017 and served as the first Chief Information Officer for the Department of Licensing from 2002-2010.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Gonzaga University and a project management certificate from the University of Washington. He has also completed Lean Six Sigma training.