I help organizations protect what matters and lead with accountability.

Cybersecurity Executive  | AI Governance Leader  | Conductor  | Public Servant

See My Cybersecurity Work Contact Me

  • HITRUST e1Achieved
  • TISAXAchieved
  • ISO 27001Achieved
  • PCI DSSAchieved
  • SOC 2Achieved
  • CISSPAchieved
  • AIGPIn progress

Leadership and Credentials

Leadership roles held

  • Global Director of Information Security
  • Business Information Security Officer
  • Director of Information Technology
  • Associate Director of Cybersecurity
  • Senior Information Security Engineer

Advisory boards

  • 2024 - 2026, Apexa iQ
    Customer Advisory Board
  • 2020 - 2023, Emily Griffith Technical College
    Network Advisory Board

Certifications

  • CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
  • ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Lead Implementer
  • CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)
  • AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
  • AIGP (AI Governance Professional), In Progress

Education

  • 2020 - M.Sc., Human Resource Management
    Regis University
  • 2011 - B.A., Political Science (Music Minor)
    Metropolitan State University of Denver
  • 2025 - Leadership in the Digital Age
    Harvard Business Publishing

Cybersecurity & Information Security Leadership

Protecting Global Enterprises. Governing Risk. Leading with Strategic Vision.

  • Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) certification badge
  • Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification badge
  • CISSP certification badge from ISC2
  • CompTIA A+ certification badge
  • CompTIA Network+ certification badge
  • CompTIA Security+ certification badge
  • ISC2 course badge: NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0
  • ISC2 course badge: Foundations of AI
  • ISC2 Cryptography certificate badge

Cybersecurity is no longer simply a technology discipline. It is a fundamental responsibility of enterprise leadership, demanding sound judgment, strategic foresight, operational discipline, and an unwavering commitment to protecting the organizations and people who depend upon us.

As a cybersecurity executive, I lead global information security initiatives at the intersection of enterprise risk, regulatory compliance, operational resilience, and business strategy. My work centers on developing security programs that move beyond compliance-driven obligations to establish measurable, sustainable security capabilities aligned with organizational objectives.

I oversee a comprehensive security portfolio encompassing enterprise risk management, security operations, threat detection and response, vulnerability and exposure management, cloud security, information protection, and third-party risk. I also lead the governance and assurance programs supporting internationally recognized standards and regulatory frameworks, including ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and SOC 2 Type II, while advancing organizational readiness for additional frameworks such as TISAX, HITRUST, and URAC.

My responsibilities extend beyond technical oversight. I direct the development of security personnel, manage security investments and operating budgets, establish enterprise policies and governance structures, and advise senior executives on security risks, technology decisions, and organizational priorities. From contractual risk assessments and strategic vendor evaluations to enterprise change governance, I work to ensure that security enables responsible business growth while protecting critical assets and stakeholder trust.

A defining focus of my leadership has been organizational transformation: identifying weaknesses in security maturity, establishing accountable processes, modernizing governance, and building the operational capabilities necessary to address an evolving threat landscape. This includes leading the modernization of enterprise security policies, strengthening risk ownership and exception management, and advancing cloud security capabilities.

I approach cybersecurity through the broader lens of institutional leadership. Effective security requires more than sophisticated technology. It demands informed decision-making, disciplined execution, responsible stewardship of resources, and the ability to align people, processes, and technology around a common mission.

My guiding principle is that cybersecurity must be measurable in its effectiveness, defensible in its decisions, and meaningful in its contribution to enterprise resilience and long-term business success.

Explore my Leadership and Credentials, including professional certifications, education, and advisory experience, or learn how I apply these principles to emerging technologies through Artificial Intelligence Governance.

Governance is what lets people adopt AI with confidence.

I believe AI is most valuable as a force multiplier for people. It lets one person accomplish what once required several, and it makes each person’s judgment worth more rather than less.

An organization that adopts AI deliberately can grow its output without shrinking its workforce. Each person does more, the business expands, and headcount can hold steady or even increase.

Governance and security are what make that outcome achievable. They give teams the assurance to move quickly, because the work is secure and lawful by design. I regard governance as the thing that frees people to use AI, not as a brake on it.

I come to this as a practitioner. My career is in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC): the discipline of ensuring an organization follows the rules, manages its risks, and can demonstrate both. I maintain ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and SOC 2 Type 2 certifications and attestations, which are independent audits that verify those standards are met.

I run risk management end to end, from assessment through treatment, and I lead and develop a security team. I am now applying that same discipline to AI.

Most recently, I wrote my organization’s enterprise AI Use Policy, which has been approved and put into practice. It sets clear rules for how people may use AI at work, so teams can adopt it with confidence instead of guessing where the lines are.

I am building the foundation of an AI risk assessment program, including AI Detection and Response (AIDR): the tools and processes for identifying threats and misuse in AI systems.

I am studying for the IAPP AI Governance Professional (AIGP) certification. The IAPP is the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and this credential signals a recognized professional standard for governing AI responsibly.

The certifications and attestations behind this work are listed under Leadership and Credentials, and the day-to-day security practice is described in Cybersecurity.

Choral & Orchestral Conducting

Artistic Vision. Musical Excellence. The Power of Ensemble.

Conductor | Choral Director | Music Educator | Vocal Performance

Great musical performances begin long before the first note is sung. They are the product of artistic vision, disciplined preparation, inspired musicianship, and a shared commitment to excellence.

My lifelong passion for music has been shaped by formal study in music education and vocal performance, extensive experience in choral and orchestral conducting, and the privilege of leading auditioned community ensembles. Throughout my musical journey, I have sought to cultivate more than technical proficiency. I strive to develop musicianship, inspire artistic expression, and create ensembles capable of delivering performances that resonate with both performers and audiences.

My leadership in music began early. As president of my high school choir council and recipient of the National School Choral Award, I established a new tradition in which the choir council president conducted the combined choirs at the Christmas concerts each year. That experience helped establish a philosophy that continues to inform my work as a conductor: musical excellence requires preparation, disciplined collaboration, mutual trust, and the ability to unite many individual voices around a singular artistic vision.

In the years since, I have had the opportunity to direct auditioned community choirs and orchestras, working with musicians of varying backgrounds and abilities to pursue ambitious repertoire, refine ensemble performance, and bring meaningful musical experiences to the communities they serve.

For me, conducting is the intersection of artistry and leadership. It is the responsibility of interpreting a composer's intentions, drawing excellence from every musician, and transforming individual contributions into something extraordinary.

Conducting and directing

2024 - 2025 - Calvary Castle Rock Choir - Founder and Director
Started the church's first choir and built it from the ground up over about eighteen months before handing it on.
2019 - 2021 - Castle Rock Chorale - Maestro
Two years leading an auditioned community choir at level 3 to 5 repertoire, with performances at community events, nursing homes, and holiday carol ceremonies.
2010 - 2011 - Thornton Philharmonic - Associate Conductor
An orchestral role held while studying at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
2008 - 2009 - Corona Presbyterian Church Choir - Director of Music and Worship
2003 - 2005 - GracePoint Community Church - Director of Music Ministries
About three years leading the music program.

As a singer

2026 - Tenor, Kirksville Community Chorus
2023 - 2025 - Tenor, Alpine Chorale
2017 - 2019 - Tenor, Castle Rock Chorale
2005 - 2009 - Tenor Section Leader, Metropolitan State University of Denver Chorale
2005 - 2009 - Tenor Section Leader, Metropolitan State University of Denver Men's Chorus
2007 - 2008 - Tenor, St. Mary Catholic Parish Choir
2002 - 2003 - Tenor, Colorado Christian University Choir
2002 - 2003 - Tenor, Colorado Christian University Vocal Chamber Ensemble
1998 - 2001 - Tenor, Colorado Mormon Chorale
1998 - Tenor, Colorado All-State Choir
1995 - 1997 - Tenor, Jefferson County Colorado All County Choir

Public Service & Government Leadership

A Career Defined by Service. A Commitment to Principled Leadership.

Law Enforcement | Government Affairs | Legislative Engagement | Political Strategy | Public Policy

Since 2011, I have dedicated a significant part of my professional life to serving the public, strengthening institutions, and advancing the principles of accountable government.

My experience spans the front lines of law enforcement, the complexities of local and state government, legislative affairs, and the strategic leadership of political campaigns. These roles have provided me with a perspective that few professional paths can offer: an understanding of how public policy is developed, how government decisions affect communities, and what it takes to lead when the consequences of those decisions are real.

Throughout my career, I have worked alongside public officials, community leaders, and citizens to address complex challenges, advocate for responsible governance, and build public trust. Whether navigating matters of public safety, shaping political strategy, or engaging in policy discussions, my approach has remained grounded in constitutional principles, personal accountability, ethical leadership, and the conviction that government exists to serve the people.

Today, I bring that same perspective to executive leadership in cybersecurity, technology, and artificial intelligence governance, where questions of institutional responsibility, public trust, risk, and individual rights are increasingly consequential.

My philosophy is straightforward: Leadership is measured by the integrity of one's decisions, the courage to accept responsibility, and the lasting value of one's service to others.

Legislature

2024 - Present: Senior Legislative Aide, Colorado House of Representatives
Office of Representative Max Brooks, House District 45 serving Castle Rock, CO
2024: Senior Legislative Aide, Colorado State Senate
Office of Senator John Carson, Senate District 30 serving Highlands Ranch, CO
2013 - 2015: Policy Advisor, Colorado House of Representatives
Office of Representative Jovan Melton, House District 41 serving Aurora, CO

Campaigns and Elections

2023 - 2024: Campaign Manager, Joe Andujo for United States House of Representatives, CD8
2023 - 2024: Campaign Manager, Mark Davis for Castle Rock Town Council, District 4
2023 - 2024: Political Consultant, Laura Cavey for Castle Rock Town Council, District 2
2020 - 2022: Campaign Manager, Greg Lopez for Governor of Colorado
2010: Deputy Treasurer, Dan Maes for Colorado Governor
2009 - 2010: Candidate, Colorado House of Representatives, District 9

Local Government

2026 - Present: City of Greentop Fire Department - Greentop, MO
Board of Directors
2022 - 2026: Douglas County Planning Commission - Castle Rock, CO
Chairman
2021 - 2023: Cobblestone Ranch Homeowners Association - Castle Rock, CO
Board of Directors
Chairman, Public Safety Committee
2017 - 2023: Town of Castle Rock Election Commission - Castle Rock, CO
Chairman
2011 - 2013: City of Littleton Victim Compensation Board - Littleton, CO
Board of Directors

Law Enforcement and Public Safety

2024 - 2025: Community Safety Volunteer, Douglas County Sheriff's Office
2015 - 2019: Reserve Deputy Marshal, Hugo Marshal's Office
2013 - 2014: Deputy Sheriff, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office
2006 - 2012: Police Officer, Manitou Springs Police Department
2004 - 2005: Police Officer, Red Rocks Community College

Let's Connect

Meaningful Conversations. Strategic Opportunities. Lasting Impact.

I welcome conversations with executives, board members, business leaders, and organizations seeking experienced leadership in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence governance, enterprise risk, and organizational transformation.

Whether exploring executive leadership opportunities, board and advisory appointments, strategic partnerships, or speaking engagements, I value opportunities to exchange ideas, address complex challenges, and contribute to meaningful outcomes.

I look forward to connecting.

Send Me an Email

C. J. Garbo, M.Sc.

Cybersecurity Executive  | AI Governance Leader  | Conductor  | Public Servant