North Dakota’s IT department announced on July 8 that it has appointed Chris Gergen as the state’s new chief information security officer (CISO).
North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) said that Gergen most recently served as interim CISO, where he led efforts to strengthen the state’s security posture. Gergen stepped in as interim CISO after Michael Gregg departed from the role in February.
“We’re incredibly proud to promote one of our own to this vital leadership role,” Corey Mock, the state’s chief information officer, said in a press release.
“Chris is not only a highly capable cybersecurity leader – he’s a mentor, a trusted voice, and a strong advocate for every individual on his team. He understands the value of lifelong learning and leads with humility, curiosity, and a steady commitment to service,” Mock added.
Gergen has nearly two decades of experience working in the cybersecurity and IT sector. He first joined NDIT in 2019, serving as the cyber analysis and response lead. In this role, he helped set up a cyber operations center for North Dakota. He later served as the director of cyber operations.
Before joining NDIT, Gergen served in several other cyber and IT roles, including at Deloitte, the Bank of North Dakota, and the Center for Innovation at the University of North Dakota.
“It’s an honor to serve the state I’ve proudly called home for nearly my entire life,” Gergen said. “I’m eager to build on the strong foundation already in place, and I’m deeply committed to safeguarding the digital government services that North Dakotans rely on. I’m grateful for the trust placed in me to help lead this important work.”
