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Vice President for Information Technology and Global University Chief Information Officer

Don Welch

Don Welch is a strategic leader with a profound background in information technology and security, shaped through his extensive roles as CTO, CIO, CISO, and CEO. Throughout his career, Don has consistently demonstrated his ability to create a vision and seamlessly align technology with organizational strategy. His remarkable talent lies in building high-performing teams that consistently exceed expectations and garner genuine appreciation from their customers. Don's expertise extends to every facet of strategic IT leadership, making him a versatile and impactful leader. What sets Don apart is his unique perspective, having personally led, executed, or taught every dimension of IT. He has both consumed and delivered IT services, developed and procured IT products, and ventured into the realm of cybersecurity during his tenure as a professor at West Point. Recognizing the nation's growing need for cybersecurity professionals, he proactively marshaled resources, taught, conducted research, and pioneered a program that has played a pivotal role in shaping cybersecurity education nationwide. At the core of his career is a consistent pattern of innovative vision, strategic execution, and inspirational leadership that has driven his teams to bring these visions to life. Don Welch is not just well-versed in IT; he understands how IT can best support an organization's mission and is adept at making it work seamlessly for the company's benefit.

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Contributor Brief·Don Welch · 3 articles
Updated Sep 7, 2023

Organizational silos, not technology gaps, kill IT-OT convergence

Welch argues that IT-OT convergence fails not due to technical incompatibility but because cultural and political barriers prevent teams from breaking down organizational silos. Effective leadership must actively build trust and empower cross-functional teams to bridge these historically parallel domains.

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parallel universes: OT's prolonged lifecycles vs. IT's dynamic pace

“Organizational silos become the biggest security risk when teams collide.”

IT and OT Convergence (Pro AV)

1

critical leadership lever: building trust across divided teams

Organizations increasingly rely on technology, making effective IT leadership paramount.

The Importance of Leadership in IT

The walls between OT and IT must fall—but culture, not cables, is the real obstacle.

IT and OT Convergence (Software and Technology)

“Organizational silos are the biggest security risk, not technical incompatibility.”

Themes:Organizational silos as security and operational failure pointsCultural barriers outweigh technical feasibility in digital convergenceTrust-based leadership as the bridge between IT and OT domains

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