The New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) today announced the recognition of 19 of its employees as “Cybersecurity Champions” for their significant contributions to support and enhance cybersecurity across New York State. The winners were honored today at the 28th Annual New York State Cybersecurity Conference in front of nearly 1,500 attendees in Albany, New York.
“The achievements of these dedicated ITS employees reflect the very best of our agency’s commitment to cybersecurity excellence,” said New York State Chief Information Officer Dru Rai. "These individuals have demonstrated exceptional dedication, innovation, and leadership in the protection of our systems, networks, data, and communities. We are proud to recognize their outstanding individual and group contributions and the collaborative spirit that continues to drive our agency forward."
"Cybersecurity is ultimately about people — the professionals who remain vigilant, adaptable, and committed to the protection of systems and data in an increasingly complex threat environment," said ITS Chief Information Security Officer Chris Desain. "The employees recognized through this peer-nominated award program have distinguished themselves through their expertise, collaboration, and unwavering focus on security excellence."
Congratulations to the following 2026 New York State Cybersecurity Champions:
- Anthony Tibaldi, NYS Office of Information Technology Services, Deputy Director of Security Shared Services
Anthony Tibaldi has provided exemplary cybersecurity services throughout his career in the Chief Information Security Office (CISO) of ITS. During his tenure, Anthony has provided his expertise in many areas of security, including incident response, process and program development, and the secure software development lifecycle. Anthony's dedication to excellence and his commitment to servant leadership has made him an integral member of the CISO.
- Michael Corcione, NYS Office of Information Technology Services, Information Security Officer supporting the NYS Department of State
Michael consistently goes beyond reactive compliance to anticipate emerging threats and implement risk mitigation strategies that protect the sensitive data of millions of New Yorkers, as well as the integrity of critical government systems. Michael’s ability to translate complex cybersecurity risk into clear, actionable intelligence helps give DOS leadership the visibility they need to make informed decisions. This steady, forward-looking approach has made DOS a more resilient organization and reflects exactly the kind of sustained commitment to public service that defines a true cybersecurity champion.
- ITS DOL Security Services Team: David Komar, Abraham Lara, Michael Cavotta and Wayne Esguerra
This team is recognized for their exceptional dedication and sustained commitment to advancing cybersecurity. The team has continually proven their dedication to information security during the development of the UISIM application and across other initiatives, including prioritizing the agency's safety by thoroughly investigating significant vulnerabilities. Their proactive engagement on transformation projects, regardless of scale, has ensured such initiatives are delivered with robust security measures.
- ITS Division of Legal Technology, Non-Email and Digital Forensics (NEDF): Daniel Carr, Daniel Bellinger, Filip Mazur, Jaise Kamara, Kanchana Raja, Victoria Silverstrim, Derek Chi
- ITS Division of Legal Technology, Email and Collaboration Suite (ECS): Josetta Jenkins-Smith, Rohit Kanchan, Sky Bell, Ernest Seabury, Joseph Oathout, Owen Sim
The ITS Division of Legal Technology's Email and Collaboration Suite team and the Non-Email and Digital Forensics team play an instrumental role in supporting the NYSOC mission to eradicate malware from the ITS tenant.
The NEDF team’s diligent work in performing data extraction and deletion requests from network-attached storage has been crucial for isolating and removing compromised data. The ECS team’s consistent and efficient execution of “block and delete” requests has directly contributed to the containment and removal of malicious elements, thereby safeguarding the integrity and security of our systems.
The proactive engagement and reliable support provided by both of these teams are critical to maintaining a secure environment and are highly valued in our ongoing efforts against cyber threats.
About the New York State Office of Information Technology Services
The NYS Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) was established in 2012 and is the largest consolidated IT organization in America. At ITS, we deliver modern technology solutions that connect NYS agencies, entities, commissions, and local governments with millions of New Yorkers.
Our skilled cyber professionals protect the state’s systems and data from intrusion and attack, provide cyber incident response assistance, distribute real-time advisories and alerts, provide managed security services, and deliver comprehensive cybersecurity awareness training for state and local employees. Through the establishment and expansion of the highly successful Joint Security Operations Center, we are now safeguarding 160,000 endpoints, 4600 applications, billions of sensitive records, and have quickly made New York a national leader on cybersecurity.
We have enhanced the customer experience by creating simple, seamless and improved digital services which are easily accessed by our citizens. At ITS, we are guiding the State’s next phase of Artificial Intelligence and helping agencies strengthen their operations, increase productivity and get more done for New York.
We proudly stand by the quality of our products and services and collaborate with suppliers to boost our offerings even more. We leverage data to drive informed decision making that helps government work better for hardworking people and save taxpayer money.
Our talented ITS employees are leaders, innovators and drivers of positive change who have won countless state and national awards. We believe technology is transformational, and we will never stop striving to do better, be better and improve the way we operate.
Want to know more about how ITS, a NYS Agency on the rise, makes IT Happen? Visit our website at its.ny.gov.
