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Ohio Fills New Job Overseeing Cybersecurity for Elections

Sean McAfee, formerly of the Department of Homeland Security, will be the new chief information security officer for the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, overseeing security efforts for the state elections agency.

Hand holding smart phone with online voting concept on screen.
(Shutterstock)
(TNS) — The Ohio state government has filled a new job overseeing cybersecurity for the 2020 election and beyond.

Sean McAfee, a former official with the Department of Homeland Security, will be the new chief information security officer for the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office. He will oversee security efforts for the state elections agency and Ohio’s 88 boards of election.

The position was created through cybersecurity legislation, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in October.

LaRose released a video on Thursday filmed during a stop in Cleveland announcing McAfee’s hiring.

“This is an individual that has worked all over the globe, but we’re bringing him back home,” LaRose said.

McAfee, who graduated from Ohio State University, grew up in Navarre.

LaRose has made cybersecurity one of his major talking points since taking office last year. That has included backing the bill that created McAfee’s job, and ordering an ongoing effort by county boards to upgrade their security measures before the March 17 primary election.

©2020 The Plain Dealer, Cleveland. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.