OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY, September 3, 2024: With a distinguished career spanning over two decades across the military, NASA, and higher education, Kate Rhodes ’07 now stands at the forefront of Old Dominion University’s cyber defense strategy as its newly appointed chief information security officer (CISO).
As the first woman CISO at the university, Rhodes spearheads the university’s protection of its digital landscape from evolving cyber threats. Her strategic leadership and commitment to cyber resilience ensure that ODU remains ahead of the curve in safeguarding its critical assets and the extensive portfolio as an R1 Research Institution.
“Kate’s exceptional background, coupled with her strategic approach and visionary leadership, makes her the ideal choice to lead our cybersecurity efforts,” said Nina Rodriguez Gonser, ODU vice president for digital transformation and technology. “Her focus on building resilient systems and her ability to anticipate emerging threats set a high standard for our university’s digital security.”
Rhodes, who previously served as interim CISO, said she’s excited to build on her work at her alma mater.
“I have so much pride in ODU. I believe in higher education’s mission of enabling education and research,” she said. “I get to work with brilliant people, and I get to defend against threat actors, protect our data, and build trust across our community.”
Rhodes’ journey into information technology began after earning her bachelor’s degree from ODU’s training specialist program in occupational and technical studies. Although she initially worked in the private sector, she felt a calling to find a career with a deeper purpose.
That search led her to the Army, where she served six years as a nodal network systems operator-maintainer. While deployed in Afghanistan, Rhodes’ team had to protect communications networks at a forward operating base outside of Kandahar and help ensure the central command center could communicate with surveillance tools during missions.
“In the Army, I got to really dig into solutions,” Rhodes said. “By securing networks, you’re enabling people to communicate, and you’re securing their processes. That felt very rewarding. I served a bigger purpose than myself, and that’s very similar to the work in higher education.”
Rhodes’ experience shapes her technical skills and her perspective on leadership and teamwork. The importance of collective effort, a sense of purpose, and ensuring critical processes became central to how she approaches every challenge, principles she carried with her to the university, she said. Rhodes also serves on the steering committee for the Virginia Alliance for Secure Computing and Networking, which helps strengthen cybersecurity programs and provides collaboration within the public universities in Virginia.
Drawing on these lessons, Rhodes has prioritized engaging the entire campus community by embedding a resilient security culture into the university’s fabric.
“Cybersecurity might not be at the top of everyone’s minds,” Rhodes said. “I want to influence a cybersecurity culture through the idea of behaviors that create norms and values that become an inherent part of someone’s daily operations.”
She emphasizes cybersecurity is not just a departmental responsibility but a shared mission that everyone understands and actively supports.
That mission has expanded with the university’s growth as an R1 research institution and the inclusion of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University.
“Our research and medical collaborations introduce unique challenges,” Rhodes said. “We’re not just protecting academic data anymore—we’re also safeguarding sensitive health information and cutting-edge research that could have global implications. My team is focused on developing advanced solutions that can meet these demands while still supporting the university’s mission of growth and innovation.”
Despite the growing complexity, Rhodes brings a calm and steady approach to leadership, shaped by a lifetime of handling pressure. Her ability to remain effective under stress was cultivated early on.
Growing up in rural Virginia and later in Williamsburg as the daughter of a county administrator, Rhodes pitched in during emergencies, taking calls at emergency management centers to help those in need during hurricanes and ice storms. This early exposure to high-pressure situations laid the groundwork for her future roles, including her deployment in the Army and later work as a contractor with the Navy and NASA. At NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, she collaborated with researchers during rocket launches—an experience that complimented her passion for securing critical missions.
“Kate’s ability to secure networks in high-stakes environments, whether on a battlefield or in a research institution, underscores her readiness to lead ODU’s cybersecurity initiatives with precision and purpose,” said Kirk Dewyea, associate vice president of administration and interim chief information officer.
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