Lester Godsey

Lester Godsey serves as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Arizona State University, the largest public university by enrollment in the United States. His appointment follows a distinguished five-year tenure as CISO for Maricopa County, where he skillfully managed information security during one of the most contentious election periods in this country's modern history. With over 27 years of public-sector IT experience, Lester is a respected voice in the field, having presented at local, state, and national levels on a diverse range of topics including telecommunications, data management, and cybersecurity. A lifelong learner and educator, Lester holds multiple industry certifications including PMP, CISM, and CISSP. He has shared his expertise as a collegiate instructor for almost fifteen years, teaching cybersecurity, technology, and project management courses. Lester is also a published author and actively contributes to the cybersecurity community. His academic background uniquely blends the arts and technology, holding both a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master of Science in Technology from Arizona State University. This multidisciplinary foundation informs his innovative approach to information security leadership.