“Throughout his time in state government, Jeff Maxon has ensured Kansans have safe and secure access to digital services,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “His expertise in information technology makes him the perfect choice to lead the agency and reaffirms my commitment to keeping Kansas’ IT systems safe and secure. I look forward to his continued service to Kansas.”  

Maxon has been with the State of Kansas since 2009, most recently serving as the State’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). He also serves as a Cyber Defense Operations Craftsman with the Kansas Air National Guard.  

“I am humbled by Governor Kelly’s appointment to continue in the role of CITO,” Jeff Maxon said. “OITS is an agency of dedicated public servants, and I’m proud to work alongside them as we look to what the future holds for Kansas digital government and a whole-of-state approach to cybersecurity.”  

In his short time as Interim CITO, Maxon has been responsible for developing the State’s recent policy on Generative Artificial Intelligence; passing legislation for mandatory reporting by public entities and government contractors that experience a significant cybersecurity incident; and securing funds for the Kansas Information Security Office to provide robust cybersecurity tools and resources to Executive Branch agencies. He has also been instrumental in planning and hosting the Kansas Public Sector Cybersecurity Summit, which brings together hundreds of experts from across government, including K-12 schools, colleges, state, county, and local units of government, to foster communication and coordination on cybersecurity risk preparedness. 

Maxon has been recognized locally and nationally for his work. He’s a recent recipient of Topeka’s Top 20 Under 40, and in 2022, he was recognized as a top Global CISO by Cyber Defense Magazine. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Washburn University, where he was also a student-athlete on the baseball team. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity from Capella University. He holds multiple licenses and professional certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK).   

The CITO position is not Senate-confirmed. Maxon will continue to serve as the State CISO until a replacement is found.