Georgia Tech Announces New Chief Information Security Officer Joseph Lewis

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 PMP, CISM, CISSP, and holds a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance.

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.