Keith Brautigam@keithbrautigam
Keith Brautigam is a seasoned IT and cybersecurity professional with extensive experience in identity and access management. He has taken on various roles throughout his career, progressively moving into leadership positions, including Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Interim Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Penn State University. His work has consistently focused on improving security measures, optimizing IT systems, and ensuring compliance across multiple organizations.
Keith was born in San Diego, California, and moved to the East Bay Area of San Francisco when he was two. His interest in technology began early, and he was influenced by friends who owned Amiga and Atari computers. While he initially enjoyed video games, he soon became interested in improving the performance of computers to enhance his gaming experience. Later, his family moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where he attended high school and pursued a Communication and Media Studies degree at the University of Iowa. This also allowed him to study abroad in Mérida, Venezuela.
After completing his degree, Keith faced a challenging job market, particularly following the collapse of the 1990s eCommerce bubble. He moved to Research Triangle, North Carolina, where he worked as a supervisor at a Borders bookstore. While this role was not in his field of study, it gave him valuable leadership and customer service experience. He eventually returned to Iowa City and accepted an IT position at a medical research center, where he began his career in IT. There, he focused on system administration, security, and compliance, particularly with HIPAA regulations.
Keith later transitioned into higher education, where he helped modernize internal processes and implement new technologies. His experience with Agile SCRUM software development practices led to his recruitment by the University of Iowa’s central IT department. In 2014, he moved to Penn State University, where he rose from manager to director, CISO, and interim CIO. While at the university, he led several key initiatives, including implementing the Shields Up cybersecurity program, which significantly improved security measures.
In 2023, he relocated to the Denver Metro Area and joined Hunter Douglas as the Global Cybersecurity Director of Identity and Access Management. In this role, he quickly established an IAM program, led the implementation of an identity governance system, and worked on improving security across several regions. Keith Brautigam’s career continues to be defined by his expertise and leadership in IT and cybersecurity, and he remains dedicated to advancing the field wherever he works.