LaRose Announces Pick For Chief Information Security Officer

Legislation meant to improve Ohio’s defenses against cybersecurity breaches goes into effect Friday.

The legislation puts Ohio’s Secretary of State on the state’s Homeland Security Advisory council and requires boards of elections to audit election results. It also creates the new position of Chief Information Security Officer.

In a Thursday video, shot on the street in Downtown Cleveland, Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the pick for that position: Ohio native and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Officer Sean McAfee.

“He’s a native of northeast Ohio, he’s excited to join this team and to take on this mission of helping us safeguard elections, not only at the Secretary of State’s office but at all 88 county boards of elections,” LaRose said.

As part of the federal Homeland Security Department, McAfee focused on domestic and international threats to cybersecurity, LaRose said.