The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) announced that Nancy Rainosek has retired from her position as chief information security officer (CISO), and confirmed that Deputy CISO and State Cybersecurity Coordinator Tony Sauerhoff will take over Rainosek’s successor.
“Nancy Rainosek is a celebrity in the state government cybersecurity community. She has established an incredible legacy as a public servant dedicated to the security of the state of Texas as well as mentoring and supporting her team,” said DIR’s Executive Director and State of Texas Chief Information Officer Amanda Crawford. “Both DIR and the state of Texas will continue to benefit from Nancy’s time as Chief Information Security Officer for years to come.”
Rainosek joined DIR in 2013 and became CISO in 2017. She has helped develop the state’s cybersecurity program and also helped establish establishing security protocols for state agencies to protect Texans’ data and the state’s technology infrastructure. She also oversaw the implementation of initiatives such as the Regional Security Operations Centers, the Texas Information Sharing and Analysis Organization, and the Statewide Portal for Enterprise Cybersecurity Threat, Risk, and Incident Management.
Rainosek will serve as DIR’s Executive Cybersecurity Strategist until her retirement in December.
“It has been such an honor to serve DIR and the state of Texas as Chief Information Security Officer for almost eight years,” said Rainosek. “Though I am stepping down from the role, I know that I put together a strong team that will continue to improve the security maturity of the state of Texas and keep making me proud.”
DIR also announced that Sauerhoff has taken over as CISO effective immediately. DIR said that he brings more than 30 years of experience in IT and cybersecurity, and noted that he served in leadership positions with the Federal judiciary and the U.S. Department of Defense before joining DIR in 2022.
