Miguel A. Penaranda brings 29 years of experience in information technology to his role as Chief Information Security Officer for the State of Wyoming, including 14 years specifically in cybersecurity. His cybersecurity expertise encompasses a decade of leadership experience, with the last five years spent in executive leadership roles. He has a demonstrated history of success in building and transforming cybersecurity programs,  spearheading IT modernization initiatives, and developing high-performing teams. 

Raised in both Peru and Switzerland, Mr. Penaranda has dedicated his professional life to public service in South Dakota, beginning his career with the state government in 2004. He earned a degree in Computer Science & Systems Engineering and previously an Associate's Degree in Computer Technology.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Penaranda served as the Chief Information Security Officer for the State of South Dakota. Before that appointment, he was the State Webmaster, where he led efforts to modernize and standardize the state's web presence. As South Dakota's CISO, he established the Cyber Security Division and successfully mitigated a major incident, minimizing downtime and preventing significant data loss. 

A strong advocate for IT and cybersecurity modernization across government sectors, Mr. Penaranda has cultivated collaborative relationships with federal, state, and local agencies, enhancing shared threat intelligence.