Benjamin Lorenz Email and Phone Number

As a Senior Cyber Preparedness Specialist, I am in charge of developing an updated version of the Maryland Cyber Disruption Contingency Plan as well as facilitating MDEM’s strategic planning as a member of the Maryland Cyber Core Planning Team. I also support the Continuity Unit in improving the efficiency of statewide data acquisition and management by sharing knowledge of best information security and data management practices. In this role, I have created and implemented the cyber competency program for local jurisdictions and developed a template dashboard for the planning and activation of Continuity Of Operations procedures for all Maryland Government Departments. Working with the National Guard, I have expedited the MDEM’s cyber posture assessment. I have also spearheaded the development of the Template Cyber Disruption Plan, Cyber Self-Assessment Tool, and the Maryland Cyber Strategic Plan in close collaboration with Hagerty Consulting Inc. Besides, I liaised with 13 agencies state-wide and coordinated activities and personnel to participate in GridEx VI (November 2021), a scenario-based cyber security workshop for electric cooperatives hosted by SkyHelm. In April 2022, I acted as a Planning Section Chief for the Maryland Department of Health cyber disruption.

As an Assistant Principal, I provided leadership to effectively implement the school philosophy, policies, goals, and objectives while setting a high bar for all 80+ educators, 20+ support staff, and 700+ students. I outlined clear short and long-term goals to drive instruction and help the staff and students succeed in a safe and effective environment. I also assisted in managing all school operations, resolving HR-related matters, and administering an annual budget. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, I partnered with the Principal to arrange a COVID-safe school environment for In-Person Learning in Fall 2020 as well as guided the faculty in transition to Remote Learning and then back to In-Person Learning. I optimized the daily transportation plan for 400 vehicles and led the team to readapt this plan for COVID protocols. I also elaborated a minimal-contact operation to perform the exchange of student-owned items and school-owned items from 500 families at the end of the 2020 school year. I consistently fostered a data-driven culture to drive informed decision-making, enhance student outcomes, automate processes, and improve school safety. Thus, I designed a data management system for controlling/evaluating student performance across disparate metrics. I also created and implemented a highly efficient digital disciplinary referral system that automated alarms for high-level incidents and recorded, organized, and archived historical data.