John Godfrey named Chief Information Security Officer at State of Kansas

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced the appointment of John Godfrey as the state's Chief Information Security Officer. Godfrey takes over for Jeff Maxon, who moved to the role of state Chief Information Technology Officer.

According to GovTech, Godfrey will head the Kansas Information Security Office as that office develops and puts in place strategies for cybersecurity and information security. GovTech reports that Maxon had held the CISO post since July 2020 before his move to the chief information technology officer role. According to GovTech, Maxon kept carrying out his CISO duties after being appointed to the CITO role, until a permanent security officer was named.

GovTech reports that Godfrey founded LionHeart Cybersecurity Advisors in Kansas City, Kan., where he also served as CISO-in-residence. According to GovTech, Godfrey has also worked with a number of the state’s Regents universities. At the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he spent more than 10 years, Godfrey was CISO and associate vice chancellor for information security for six years, GovTech reports. At Kansas State University, he spent over five years working as an information security analyst, a systems administrator and a senior cybersecurity engineer, according to GovTech. GovTech reports that in 2021 Godfrey sat on the Governor’s Cybersecurity Task Force and chaired its Statewide Communication and Collaboration Subcommittee.

According to GovTech, Godfrey has a Bachelor of Science from Fort Hays State University in justice studies and information networking and telecommunications, and another in IT from American InterContinental University. Capital Technology University awarded him a Master of Science in information assurance, according to GovTech. At the time of the report, Godfrey was studying at Capital Technology University for a Doctor of Science in cybersecurity, GovTech reported.

Godfrey said in the announcement that the KISO has been building a statewide cyber community that takes in all 105 counties, GovTech reports.