Denver, CO., Tuesday, October 14, 2025 — The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has named Ohio chief information security officer (CISO) Holly Drake as the recipient of the 2025 Thomas M. Jarrett State Cybersecurity Leadership Award. The program was created to pay homage to Tom Jarrett, late past president of NASCIO (2004 – 2005), for his passion for cybersecurity and honors state CISOs for exceptional accomplishments in their field.
Appointed in 2023 as Ohio’s chief information security officer, Holly Drake has rapidly strengthened the state’s cybersecurity posture through strategic leadership, talent development and enterprise-wide collaboration. She expanded agency coverage with dedicated information security managers, launched new services like penetration testing and tabletop exercises and deployed modern cybersecurity tools while streamlining outdated ones. Under her guidance, Ohio’s cyber maturity significantly grew and reflects measurable improvement. Drake also created a governance, risk and compliance team, expanded training efficiency and matured the state’s centralized incident response. Known for her collaborative, user-centered approach—including her “Coffee with the CISO” forums—she has built trust across agencies while mentoring the next generation of cyber leaders. Recognized nationally with Security Magazine’s Women in Security 2025 Award, Drake exemplifies innovative, people-first cybersecurity leadership.
To view past recipients of the Thomas M. Jarrett State Cybersecurity Leadership Award, visit nasciomainsite.kinsta.cloud/awards.
Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
NASCIO
mward@NASCIO.org