Combs names chief privacy officer

AUSTIN (KXAN) - After more than 3 million Texans' social security numbers, birthdates and driver's license numbers were exposed on a computer server available to the public, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs has hired someone to oversee information privacy.

The comptroller announced Thursday she has hired Elizabeth Rogers as the agency’s first chief privacy officer.

The new position will have Rogers helping the agency be proactive in information privacy.

“Elizabeth has the experience, know-how and commitment to help ensure that a major data issue does not happen again here. She is one of a number of new professional personnel who will come on board this summer as we develop and implement new plans and procedures,” Combs said.

Rogers’ duties will include:

• Creating and updating privacy standards
• Performing risk reviews to identify exchanges of personally identifiable information between agencies and other entities
• Identifying new privacy risks and developing mitigation strategies
• Collaborating with chief privacy officers at the state and federal levels on privacy related initiatives.

Rogers previously worked as director of legal and regulatory client services at Resources Global Professionals, general counsel of the State Bar of Texas, and worked for the attorney general’s office.

Combs also announced the hiring of Jesse Rivera as chief information security officer to oversee information technology security and regulations.

Rivera's duties will include:

• Overseeing information technology security and risk assessment
• Directing cyber security audits and ensuring technologies are in place to reduce risks of attacks
• Working on network security architecture based on the agency’s business needs and security regulations.

Rivera has served as information security officer at General Electric and Clear Channel Communications and spent nearly five years with the CIA.