Lester Godsey, CISO of Maricopa County, Arizona, the fourth largest county in the United States, is retiring.

Seema Patel, CISO Assistant; took over Godsey’s jobin October, according to county CIO Richard McHattie.

Godsey became the county’s CISO in 2019 after serving as chief information security and privacy officer for the Maricopa County city of Mesa.

“Mr. Lester will remain on staff until December 2, 2024, to support his colleagues and keep the team focused on cybersecurity efforts through the 2024 election cycle,” McHattie wrote in an email. government technology. “We wish him well in his next endeavors.”

While serving as the county’s CISO, he was recognized as one of the top 25 doers, dreamers, and promoters of government technology. His work on cybersecurity and combating misinformation was noted.

on his LinkedIn pageGodsey thanked the security team.

“Our success in preventing and responding to cyber, kinetic, and reputational attacks is a direct result of our information security teams,” he wrote, but added: He did not elaborate on “career steps.”

He still works as an adjunct faculty member specializing in cybersecurity at Arizona State University and teaches at other universities, according to his profile.

Mr. Patel’s experience includes serving as Health Information Systems Manager for Maricopa County, a county of more than 4.5 million people. She has more than 20 years of experience in program management and is also a student of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Krav Maga, according to her county profile.

“Seema brings a wealth of experience in cybersecurity and risk management, and I am confident she will build on the strong foundation that Lester has laid,” McHattie wrote. “During the transition period, Seema will monitor Leicester and work closely with Leicester to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.”