Michael Leahy | Moderator
independent

Michael G. Leahy is a nationally recognized leader in digital identity, data privacy, and technology governance with over two decades of experience spanning government, law, and industry. As Maryland's Secretary of Information Technology and CIO under Governor Larry Hogan (2017-2023), he led transformative modernization initiatives that earned Maryland its highest-ever grade (A-) in the Center for Digital Government's Digital States Survey. He served as President of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) in 2021-2022, shaping national policy on privacy, enterprise architecture, and decentralized identity. Earlier roles include City Attorney for Annapolis, Maryland, as an enforcement attorney at the Federal Trade Commission and as a structured finance banking executive.Currently Vice President of National IT Strategy at Government Sourcing Solutions, Leahy advises governments and industry on procurement reform, privacy-preserving architectures, and digital governance frameworks. A Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) and author of "The Fiduciary Commons," he champions citizen-centric approaches to data stewardship that balance innovation with individual autonomy. He has served on advisory boards for the International Association of Privacy Professionals and is currently engaged in reviewing the ABA State Model Procurement Code, and remains a leading voice for trust-based digital infrastructure that protects fundamentalrights in the age of AI