BOSTON – Friday, March 1, 2019 – Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the appointments of Stefanie Costa Leabo as Boston’s Chief Data Officer, and Gregory McCarthy as the the City of Boston’s first-ever Chief Information Security Officer, who will both work to strengthen the City’s Department of Innovation and Technology.
“I’m proud to welcome Stefanie and Gregory to leadership positions in our Department of Innovation and Technology, which works to utilize technology in the best and smartest ways possible to make residents lives better,” said Mayor Walsh. “I look forward to them excelling in their roles, and continuing to build on Boston’s successes in being a groundbreaking leader in technological advances for our residents.”
Stefanie Costa Leabo will head the City’s Analytics and Data Team in their efforts to work with departments to solve challenging problems, make government more effective, and deliver better outcomes for constituents through the use of data, process improvement, and technology. Costa Leabo has been a member of the Analytics Team since 2015. In her time with the City of Boston, she led the development and release of Mayor Walsh’s CityScore initiative and facilitated the launch of Boston’s Community Assistance Team pilot program.
“It’s an honor to take this position with the City,” said Costa Leabo. “I’ve had the privilege of helping to shape the growth and development of this team since 2015. Both in my time with Somerville, and with the City of Boston, I’ve worked closely with programs and departments to encourage and support their use of data to enhance operations and provide better services. I look forward to furthering the mission of my Department to improve the lives of people who live and work in Boston through the use of data.”
Before joining the City of Boston, Costa Leabo began her career in local government with the City of Somerville as a senior analyst in the SomerStat office working with departments to increase their use of data to improve operations and service delivery as well as coordinating cross-departmental projects like the citywide LED street light retrofit. Prior to working in local government, she served as a research fellow and program coordinator for the UMass Civic Initiative, a non-profit dedicated to promoting democracy through public policy education in the U.S. and abroad.
Born and raised in Massachusetts, and a resident of the North End, Stefanie is a graduate of UMass Amherst with B.A.s in Political Science and History. She earned an M.A. in Political Science from George Washington University. Stefanie is closely connected to her UMass and Boston communities having served as a mentor and board member for UMass Women Into Leadership and as a “Big Sister” with Big Brother Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay.
Gregory McCarthy will serve as the City’s first Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to lead the Cybersecurity Team. This appointment elevates the role previously held by McCarthy and marks a commitment to strengthening efforts to protect the City of Boston’s technology platforms and data from from cyber threats.
Since joining the City of Boston’s Cybersecurity Team in 2010, McCarthy has managed the implementation of numerous information security solutions and helped develop the City’s first Cybersecurity Awareness Program for employees. In this role, McCarthy will continue to lead efforts to strengthen the cybersecurity capabilities across the City and further the team’s mission through modernizing technology, partnerships, and regular training.
“Cybersecurity is something we clearly have to take seriously, and there are always new challenges ahead; a humbling reminder that our work in this field is never done,” said McCarthy. “It is an honor to be in this position for the City of Boston, and to have the opportunity to lead the City into a new chapter of maturity in how we protect our systems, data, and constituents.”
Prior to joining the City, McCarthy spent five years as a Principal Research Technician at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. McCarthy holds an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and a graduate degree in Information Assurance, both from Northeastern University. He has also earned a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification from ISACA, graduate certification in Project Management from Boston University, and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. McCarthy resides in Jamaica Plain and serves as a Board Member for the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
The City’s Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) strives to engage, empower, and improve life for residents in the City through technology. The focus areas of their work includes digital engagement and services, data and analytics, and broadband, cable and digital equity. The department oversees the development and implementation of new digital tools, open data, Wicked Free Wi-Fi, mobile apps, and cybersecurity practices.