Keith Brautigam

Keith Brautigam is a seasoned IT and cybersecurity professional with extensive experience in identity and access management. Throughout his career, he has taken on various roles, advancing to leadership positions such as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Interim Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Penn State University. His primary focus has been enhancing security protocols, optimizing IT systems, and ensuring compliance across several organizations.

Keith was born in San Diego, California; when he was just two years old, his family relocated to the East Bay Area of San Francisco. He developed an early interest in technology, fueled by friends who owned Amiga and Atari computers. Although initially drawn to video games, he soon became more interested in optimizing his computer’s performance to improve his gaming experience. Later, his family moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where he attended high school and pursued a Communication and Media Studies degree at the University of Iowa. This also allowed him to study abroad in Mérida, Venezuela.

After completing his degree, Keith faced a tough job market, especially after the 1990s eCommerce collapse. He moved to Research Triangle, North Carolina, where he worked as a supervisor at a Borders bookstore. While this role wasn’t aligned with his career goals, it helped him develop leadership and customer service skills. He eventually returned to Iowa City, where he accepted an IT position at a medical research center, which marked the beginning of his career in IT. He focused on the research center's system administration and data security, particularly HIPAA compliance.

Keith later transitioned to higher education, where he played a key role in modernizing IT systems and integrating new technologies. His experience with Agile SCRUM software development practices led to his recruitment by the University of Iowa’s central IT department. In 2014, he moved to Penn State University, where he advanced through several roles, ultimately becoming CISO and Interim CIO. During his tenure at the university, he led initiatives such as the Shields Up cybersecurity program, which significantly improved the university’s security infrastructure.