UMGC Graduate Leads Cybersecurity for the State of Maryland

The official leading Maryland's statewide cybersecurity efforts is also a two-time University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) graduate.

In May 2026, James Saunders '11, '13 was officially sworn in as Maryland's state chief information security officer (SCISO), about a year after first stepping into the role on an acting basis. As SCISO, he leads the Office of Security Management within the Maryland Department of Information Technology, overseeing cybersecurity efforts for state agencies.

His office develops statewide cybersecurity policies, standards, and guidelines for state agencies; coordinates with local governments; and works with federal partners and other states to strengthen Maryland's cyber resilience. When cyber incidents occur, Saunders and his team also help agencies restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

For Saunders, being sworn into the role was about more than a title. Standing before Maryland Gov. Wes Moore with his wife, parents, mentor, and colleagues around him, he described the ceremony as the culmination of years of personal sacrifice, academic persistence, and professional growth.

"That moment felt like my personal, academic, and professional journey all coming together at once," Saunders said. "When I look back on how I got there, I think about consistently choosing the hard path, taking on difficult challenges, and pushing myself to become as technically strong as I could. That journey is what made that moment so meaningful."

That mindset has shaped Saunders throughout his life. He said he has long been drawn to challenge and uncertainty, seeing both as necessary parts of growth.

"I choose the hard path whenever possible because I enjoy the challenge," Saunders said. "I enjoy the uncertainty and the struggle because, when you overcome all of that, the reward on the other side feels that much better."

A curiosity for how things work

Saunders described himself as the kind of kid who wanted to understand how things worked long before cybersecurity became his career. He remembers taking apart appliances, warping the colors on the family TV screen using magnets, and gravitating toward science and engineering. He also participated in MESA, the Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement program, taking part in hands-on engineering and science activities.

"I've always been technically inclined," Saunders said. "My parents and family still tell stories about how, as a kid, I would take apart toasters and always want to go to the science center at the Inner Harbor. I was constantly curious about how things worked. Looking back, that curiosity was always there."

That curiosity eventually led him to Morgan State University, where he studied electrical and electronics engineering. But family responsibilities required him to step away from school so he could work and support his family. He said UMGC offered him a path to continue his education while balancing the realities of adult life.

"I discovered UMGC at the right time in my life. I had to leave my previous school because I needed to work and support my family obligations, but I never gave up on my dream of earning a degree. I became the first person in my family to graduate from college, and UMGC helped me make that possible," Saunders said.

"What drew me to UMGC was its online flexibility and its connection to the University System of Maryland. I wanted a school that could fit my life while still keeping me connected to a strong and respected university community."