As an integral part of ReliabilityFirst’s (RF) continued dedication to security, the organization is pleased to welcome Marcus Noel as the new Chief Security Officer (CSO). In this role, he is responsible for establishing and maintaining the organization’s cybersecurity and physical security management program to ensure that information and physical assets are adequately protected. Additionally, he will manage the critical task of elevating industry relationships to understand, address and communicate emerging threats and security trends.

Previously, Noel spent 10 years at FirstEnergy Corp. where he worked on the Cybersecurity Governance Team, the Security Operations Center, Security Technologies, and ultimately served as Manager of the Cybersecurity Organization. Prior to FirstEnergy, he worked in cybersecurity at PNC Bank and Cuyahoga Community College.

“We are thrilled for Marcus to join the RF team,” said president & CEO, Tim Gallagher. “The CSO role is more important now than ever due to the rapidly and constantly evolving threat landscape in the electric utility sector. I’m confident his leadership in strategic and tactical matters will allow us to successfully maintain and improve our security posture and framework.”

Noel is a graduate of Bryant & Stratton College with an associate degree in Accounting, Baldwin-Wallace University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and Cleveland State University with a master’s in Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate in Law. He has held the Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification since 2009.

He will succeed current CSO, Larry Bugh, who will retire at the end of this year.