(US and Canada) The Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) has announced James Saunders as the State of Maryland’s Acting Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), effective May 5, 2025.

“At a time when Maryland is choosing to bet big on the cybersecurity industry, it is a very big deal that we have James Saunders as our new Chief Cybersecurity Officer. James brings vast experience to this role, and we are grateful that he has raised his hand to serve,” said Gov. Wes Moore. “With James on board, we will continue to ensure our people are protected, our state is secure, and Maryland sets the standard for leadership in cyber.”

As Acting State CISO, Saunders will lead the Office of Security Management within DoIT, overseeing efforts to protect Maryland’s IT infrastructure, digital assets, and sensitive information. He brings more than 15 years of experience in cybersecurity, with a background spanning both federal agencies and the private sector.

“As public and private organizations face new threats like agentic AI, strong cybersecurity is more important than ever,” said DoIT Secretary Katie Savage. “James Saunders is an experienced cybersecurity expert who has helped secure some of our nation’s most important systems. We are thrilled he is bringing his expertise and leadership to the State of Maryland.”

Saunders was jointly selected by the Department of Information Technology and the Executive Office of the Governor. He will serve in an acting capacity until confirmed by the Maryland State Senate and formally appointed by the Governor.

Before joining DoIT, Saunders held the role of Chief Information Security Officer and Deputy Chief Information Officer at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. He led major initiatives including the deployment of zero-trust frameworks and drove a cultural shift toward increased collaboration within the agency’s security division. Prior to that, he was CISO for the U.S. Small Business Administration, where he helped build secure systems for disbursing nearly $700 billion to small businesses and led the agency’s move to secure remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am a big advocate for embracing emerging technologies to help transform and secure organizations,” said Saunders. “And I’m a big believer in partnership. Whether they are part of my security team or not, I will work hand in hand with those across the State of Maryland to ensure we keep our people and our assets safe, together.”