Georgia Tech Announces New Chief Information Security Officer Joseph Lewis

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:15:41 +0000

Georgia Tech Announces New Chief Information Security Officer Joseph Lewis admin Wed, 07/23/2025 - 10:15

After a national search, the Georgia Institute of Technology has selected Joseph “Joe” Lewis as its new associate vice president of Information Technology and chief information security officer (CISO). He will begin the role on July 28.

Lewis brings more than two decades of cybersecurity leadership experience across federal, defense, and private-sector organizations. He most recently served as vice president of Cybersecurity Solutions for Leidos - Health and Civil sector, a defense, aviation, information technology, and biomedical research company, and interim CISO for its subsidiary Leidos QTC Health Services. Prior to his time with Leidos, Lewis served as CISO and director of the Cybersecurity Program Office at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where he led enterprise-wide security initiatives.

Lewis will report directly to Leo Howell, vice president for Information Technology and chief information officer.

“Joseph is a proven leader in cybersecurity strategy and risk management, and I am pleased he is joining Georgia Tech,” Howell said. “His deep expertise will be instrumental in strengthening the Institute’s information security posture while supporting its mission of innovation and research.”

Prior to his role at the CDC, Lewis held senior cybersecurity positions with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of the Army, one of three military departments within the Department of Defense.

Lewis holds a Ph.D. in cybersecurity leadership, an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in business information systems, and an executive master’s in public service and administration. He also earned a Chief Information Security Officer certificate from Carnegie Mellon University.

Lewis is also a certified information systems security manager, information systems security professional, and project management professional.

In his new role at Georgia Tech, Lewis will provide leadership for Institute-wide information security and risk management to ensure that data and other information assets are adequately protected.

As part of the senior leadership team in the Office of Information Technology, Lewis will also be responsible for maintaining cybersecurity practices and leading the Cyber Security team, which manages the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Institute information assets and cybersecurity-related compliance.

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Following a national search, the Georgia Institute of Technology has selected Joseph “Joe” Lewis as its new associate vice president of Information Technology and chief information security officer.

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Wed, 07/23/2025 - 12:00

courtney.hill@gatech.edu

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SGA IT Board Creates Student-Focused Solutions

admin — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:09:41 +0000

SGA IT Board Creates Student-Focused Solutions admin Fri, 04/19/2024 - 13:09

In a competitive industry like information technology (IT), real-world experience can make all the difference as students prepare for jobs after Commencement. The Student Government Association's IT Board allows students to enhance their skills while creating solutions that benefit the Georgia Tech community.

Made up of software engineers, product managers, and UI (user interface) designers, the board assists campus partners with constructing and maintaining the Institute's technology infrastructure. Projects overseen by the board, including student-focused sites such as Course Critique, are run through the Institute's AWS and Plesk platforms, mirroring industry trends.

“The IT Board creates helpful products for students, but it also helps our members by giving them the tools to work within this professional setting. With so many companies using cloud-based systems, our students are getting hands-on experience with these tools, so they already have that on their resumé and are set up to find jobs when they leave Georgia Tech," said Tyler Katchen, the outgoing SGA joint vice president of IT (JVPIT).

The board is responsible for tweaking existing sites, but its members are always seeking innovative ways to improve the student experience. The board is close to completing an app that enhances the career fair queueing process by allowing students to secure their place in line to speak with major industry players. By simplifying this process, the board hopes that attendees can spend less time waiting and more time speaking with prospective employers.

Much of the IT Board's work is done behind the scenes, but Katchen and his team aren't in search of the spotlight.

“When people see an app we develop, they may not realize how much work goes into it, but we feel the impact in other ways. The projects that are well received by students are ones where they maybe don't recognize the product; they just see themselves using it,” he said. For him, the reward is “seeing it all come together. A lot of it is just taking pride in your work.”

Since the formulation of the JVPIT role — serving both undergraduate and graduate SGA — in 2020, the board has continued to expand membership and take on larger tasks, including rebuilding the Course Critique site, which originated in 1976 as a tool to help students plan their schedules. Looking ahead, Katchen identified improvements to security measures in GitHub, as well as streamlining surveying efforts for student organizations, as some of the board’s top priorities.

The third-year computer science student recently handed over a 28-page transition document to his successor, outlining the status of current projects and day-to-day responsibilities. While he enjoyed his time at the helm, Katchen is ready to return to the keyboard.

"I'm a computer science nerd through and through," he said. "So, I'm ready to put my head down and code."

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Members of the Student Government Association’s IT Board help students improve their digital experience and receive on-the-job training to jump-start their careers.

Summary sentence

Members of the Student Government Association’s IT Board help students improve their digital experience and receive on-the-job training to jump-start their careers.

Summary

Members of the Student Government Association’s IT Board help students improve their digital experience and receive on-the-job training to jump-start their careers.

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Fri, 04/19/2024 - 12:00

Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu

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Steven Gagliano - Institute Communications

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Georgia Tech Announces New Chief Information Security Officer Joseph Lewis

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SGA IT Board Creates Student-Focused Solutions

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