Navigating And Defining The Evolving Role Of The CISO In Government Security - Josh Kuntz

In this episode of the Security Repo Podcast, we sit down with Josh Kuntz, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, to explore the unique challenges of securing state agencies. With nearly three decades in public service, Josh shares his insights on navigating government cybersecurity, hiring the next generation of security professionals, and the evolving role of CISOs. We also discuss how AI and social engineering are reshaping the threat landscape and why patching remains the top security concern after 25 years.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-kuntz-cissp-35a825176/

Josh serves as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), where he is recognized as a leading expert in cybersecurity across the state. With nearly three decades of public service, including six years in the Marine Corps and 24 years with various state agencies, he has cultivated a wealth of experience in physical and information security, IT management, major information resource project procurement, project management, contract management, and risk management.

His career highlights include eight years at the Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS), where he oversaw the statewide Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (TLETS) satellite network, and three years at the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) as their first Information Security Officer (ISO), leading the security program during its merger with the Juvenile Probation Department. He also served seven years at the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TXDMV) as their inaugural ISO, where he took on additional roles as interim Chief Information Officer and interim Project Management Office Director.

A passionate advocate for cybersecurity training, Josh established a public-private partnership that provided cybersecurity training and certification for 90 state employees. As CISO of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), he built a robust cybersecurity team and launched an apprenticeship program, while also offering cybersecurity guidance to the 28 workforce boards across Texas.

In 2023, Josh initiated a 12-month CISO Mentorship Program designed to cultivate the next generation of cybersecurity leaders within the state. He holds a degree in criminal justice, achieved CISSP certification in 2012, and was honored as the Austin ISSA CISO of the Year in 2024. With his extensive background and commitment to excellence, Josh continues to shape the future of cybersecurity in Texas.