Lester Godsey recognized among 2026 Top 100 CISOs

ASU Enterprise Technology Chief Information Security Officer Lester Godsey has been named one of the top 100 chief information security officers (CISOs) across the U.S. and Canada.

The 2026 CISOs Top 100 CISOs (C100) award recognizes U.S.- and Canadian-based cybersecurity leaders. The award was established by CISOs Connect, a global alliance of CISOs and top security executives.

This year’s C100 list marks the first time winners were selected from a global panel of renowned CISO’s, who evaluated hundreds of security leaders.

As a two-time ASU alumni, Godsey returned to ASU in the role of CISO in October 2024. 

Today, Godsey is responsible for the overall information, cyber and technology security for the university — which is paramount for a world that is increasingly online. “We need to be a trusted part of the organization so that our community looks at IT as a catalyst for supporting research, innovation and creativity, all of which are at the core of ASU,” Godsey shared previously. 

For more on ASU’s cybersecurity and information technology, visit getprotected.asu.edu. 

Honorees were assessed based on their security expertise and additional criteria, including:

• A minimum of five years serving in a CISO role
• Demonstrated organizational impact and measurable achievement
• Contributions to the CISO community through mentorship and knowledge sharing
• Advancement of security culture, resilience and professional development

Other C100 winners include CISOs from the American Red Cross, the University of Cincinnati, Fidelity Investments, Chime Financial Inc., DeVry University, City of Boston, Miami University, Sinclair Inc., McDonalds’, DC Department of Healthcare Finance, Virginia Tech, and more.