Samantha Thomas
California State Teachers’ Retirement System
CISO
Samantha Thomas joined the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) in March 2001. She serves the agency by leading their information security and privacy oversight strategy.

CalSTRS is the third largest public pension fund in the United States, with holdings exceeding $159 billion, serving more than 736,000 members. These members are employed in approximately 1,200 public school districts, community college districts, and county offices of education throughout California. CalSTRS is also a long-term investor dedicated in passively managing portfolios in its three largest categories: U.S. Equities, Fixed Income, and non-U.S. Equities. As a not-for-profit financial institution, CalSTRS is driven solely by their commitment of investing for public educators and administrators.

Prior to CalSTRS, Samantha helped launch the first Information Security Office at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). CalPERS is the largest public pension fund in the United states, with holdings exceeding $230 billion, serving more than 1.3 million members. Preceding CalPERS, Samantha also worked in the first statewide Information Security Office in the Executive Branch of the California Department of Motor Vehicles.