We Are DES: Meet Paula Leap
This is a part of our featured story series “We Are DES.” These stories will introduce you to an individual at DES and the work they do to help fulfill the DES mission — you’ll also learn some fun details about how they spend time outside of work.
Name: Paula Leap
Division: Enterprise Technology Solutions (ETS)
Job title: Information Security Operations Specialist
What year did you start at DES? 2012
What year did you begin working for Washington state? 2008
In two sentences or less, describe what you do at DES.
I protect and secure all DES data and sensitive information. This includes developing and implementing security strategies and policies, coordinating audits, leading cyber investigations, monitoring all security controls for the agency and making necessary adjustments where needed (think remediation and fixing holes). It’s a demanding and continually changing job that is at the mercy of security breaches and intrusions into DES systems.
How do you believe your role supports the DES mission of strengthening the business of government?
My role is fun and provides challenging work that keeps my mind occupied and at times, my heart beating fast. Our motto is “Security because you are at the center.” Without “you” I cannot be successful at what I do. I am continually developing valuable connections with DES staff. I also partner with the state’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) along with other agencies including the Office of Cybersecurity (OCS) and the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). My goal is to create solutions that keep DES staff and information safe, secure and protected.
In what ways do you experience DES values in your everyday work? (respect; integrity; excellence; diversity, equity & inclusion)
DES’ core values are a great filter to help me make good decisions throughout my day. Using DES’ core values takes on a whole new life when they are an integrated part of the daily dialogue. Since we all have the same foundation, it provides us with the traits that spell success. Therefore, I’m able to arrive at work each day with a deeply felt sense that I’m doing something beneficial for myself, my program and DES.
What did you do before working at DES?
I worked for Washington State Patrol to start my adventure with the state. Before that, I worked in the private industry for telephone/IT companies doing pretty much what I do here at the state.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
My husband and I are very big into mustangs (the car, not the horse) and travel, so we usually try to put these two things together as much as possible. We’ve done two coast-to-coast car trips, driven our mustang on or had track days at the Ridge (in Shelton), Las Vegas, Indianapolis, and Charlotte Motor speedways. We are currently in the process of building a 2004 Cobra Mustang.
What is a fun fact about you?
I was the first female telephone technician for a company called Terra Communications. We put phone systems in for businesses. (Think your desk phone, your voice mail, the annoying call routing machine you get when you call your bank and just want to talk to a live person — but can’t seem to get to one. Oh, and I can’t forget installing all the cables that use to make everything run — yup I’m that old.)
