Veteran IT Professional Wall Named Inaugural UA System Security Officer

LITTLE ROCK (Wednesday, April 27, 2022) — Eric Wall was named chief information security officer (CISO) of the University of Arkansas System, a newly created position charged with unifying and maintaining IT security efforts across all 22 campuses, divisions and units within the system.

Wall began his role April 17 and will be based at the UA System – Cammack Campus in Little Rock.

“Alongside other efforts to unify the UA System’s digital platforms, including the ongoing implementation of its new enterprise resource planning project, arose a need to solidify its efforts to identify, address and maintain any IT risks facing the system,” said Steven Fulkerson, chief information officer for the UA System. “Mr. Wall not only has an understanding of the cybersecurity challenges that are present in today’s workplace, but he also has extensive experience working within the UA System and leading projects across multiple campuses. We’re excited he agreed to take on this challenge from a system standpoint.”

Wall was previously deputy CISO at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and also served as manager of system administration when he joined in 2018. He was also previously a lead/supervisory network engineer at Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield and lead network analyst III at Windstream Communications in Little Rock. Before relocating to Little Rock in 2008, he worked as CIO of Electrical Wholesale Supply Co., Inc. of Forrest City and as a business analyst – revenue cycle at Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp. in Memphis, Tenn. Wall is a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

“I look forward to transitioning into this new role and helping each campus, division and unit within the UA System improve its cybersecurity posture against the rapidly evolving threat landscape,” Wall said. “Each institution has a unique cybersecurity need, and I’m excited to partner with them to ensure that they are able to continue providing high quality education and employment opportunities within a safe, efficient IT landscape.”