photo of Jennifer Benson, Chief of FI$Cal's Information Security Office

Jennifer Benson, Chief, FI$Cal Information Security Office

The Department of FISCal (FI$Cal) has hired a new chief of the Information Security Office.

Jennifer Benson comes to FI$Cal with 30 years of information technology experience. She brings a wealth of knowledge, with experience from the public, private and non-profit sectors.

During her recent tenure at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, she spearheaded key technology project initiatives to bolster various emergency management solutions. Prior to that experience, she held various positions within California state organizations, including Chief Information Officer at the Department of Toxic Substances Control, Associate Director for Enterprise Solutions Services and Project Management Officer at California State University Monterey Bay, and Information Technology Manager at the California Environmental Protection Agency.

In her role as chief of the Information Security Office, her first priorities will include familiarizing herself with FI$Cal’s enterprise and security posture, and focusing on office recruitment efforts. Her primary objective is to synchronize the goals of the Enterprise Security Services Office with the department’s mission, priorities, and the Cal-Secure roadmap, ensuring a cohesive and robust security strategy.

Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a specialization in Management Information Systems, from California State University, Chico. In addition, she holds various industry certifications and is a certified Project Management Professional and an Information Technology Infrastructure Library Practitioner.