CISO Corey Roach honored during retirement reception

Longtime friends and colleagues gathered at 102 Tower on November 7, 2024, to bid chief information security officer (CISO) Corey Roach “fair winds and following seas” ahead of his retirement and relocation to the East Coast, where he plans to pursue his interests in sailing and scuba diving.

“Corey, we’re going to miss you, but we know you’re off to a grand adventure, one that may be even more frightening than what you do now,” Chief Information Officer Steve Hess said at a retirement reception that featured light refreshments and doughy delights from Hruska’s Kolaches.

During Roach’s 26 years of information security experience in higher education, research, and health care, he served as a data security analyst, technical liaison during construction of student housing and the University Guest House for the 2002 Olympic Village, IT manager for the Office of Residential Living, associate director for Enterprise Security in the Information Security Office (ISO), and CISO.

Hess praised Roach’s intellect and steady stewardship during his tenure as CISO.

“Whenever he gets up and presents, Corey speaks as if he’s reading something. He’s articulate and he knows his stuff, which brings an element of confidence and trust with the university community,” Hess said.

CISO Jake Johansen, who was appointed as Roach’s replacement, called him “a terrific mentor and a fantastic leader.”

“Like Steve mentioned, Corey has always been quick on the uptake. He’s also honest. Corey has never told me he could do something he couldn’t do. He’s never said something that wasn’t true during my entire career,” Johansen said. “Just this morning, someone said IT security people exist because bad people exist. [Director for Governance, Risk & Compliance] Trevor Long made the comment that Corey has protected the university from itself. I truly believe that. He has educated people. He has gone to great lengths to increase our capabilities and funding. He has given us momentum into the future, and it has saved us from some tremendously bad incidents.”

Added Clay Postma, director for UIT Partner Relations, “I believe the work that the ISO team is doing is vital for this organization. I’ve really appreciated Corey — his support, his help, his guidance — and separate from all that, he’s a good friend.”

Roach, in turn, thanked everyone for their support over the years.

“The best part has always been the people I’ve worked with, by far,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot of comments about how far we’ve come in IT and security during my tenure, but so much of that is not me. Sure, I stood in front and took a few arrows for it, but the heavy lifting has always been you all. I really appreciate how much help you have given me in my career.

“Some advice I’d leave Jake and his team is that relationships have been a big part of making the ISO successful. Having people trust they can come in, close the door, and have a frank conversation about something they’re concerned about has been huge.”

Johansen said, “I’m going to do what Corey did and lean on all of you.”

“Oh, I thought you were going to say, ‘Buy a boat and leave,’” Postma replied to laughter from the crowd.

The event concluded with the presentation of gifts, including a LEGO Technic catamaran from  wrapped in the current issue of 2600 magazine a quilt from Shay Madsen and Nicole Stauffer in stitched on the back: “A truly great leader is hard to find, difficult to part with, and impossible to forget.”

Below are additional photos of the event:

 

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