UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Matthew Decker, chief information officer (CIO) and director of Information Technology Services at the University’s Applied Research Lab (ARL), has been named interim vice provost for information technology at Penn State, effective Jan. 5.
Decker takes over for Kevin Morooney, who accepted a position with the non-profit organization Internet2 in December after nine years as vice provost and a total of 28 years in various IT leadership roles at Penn State. Decker will hold the post until a national search for a permanent replacement is complete, and will hold these duties in addition to those of CIO at ARL.
“I am glad to announce that Matthew Decker has agreed to take on this important role at Penn State as we search for a permanent candidate for the vice provost’s position,” said Nicholas Jones, executive vice president and provost. “Matthew brings with him many years of leadership experience in IT and cybersecurity strategic planning, including more than a decade in leadership roles for Honeywell FM&T, which operates the Department of Energy / National Nuclear Security Administration’s National Security Campus in Kansas City, Missouri.” David Gray, Senior Vice President for Finance and Business added, “He is the perfect candidate to lead the University’s critical IT operations during this time of transition.”
Decker was appointed CIO at ARL in November, where he is charged with leading IT enterprise operations and cybersecurity efforts. Before his arrival at Penn State, Decker served most recently as CIO and director of IT for Honeywell FM&T, where he led strategic planning and integration of IT strategy within the organization’s broader business strategy. There, he directed innovation, research and development; provided oversight for a budget that topped $30 million; and managed the hiring, development and coaching of employees.
As interim vice provost for IT, Decker will oversee an organization that includes hundreds of University employees at 24 campus locations across the Commonwealth and the online World Campus, all of whom are charged with supporting the academic mission of the University, from teaching and learning with technology, to research computing and identity services.
Throughout his 15-year career in the national security realm, Decker held varied roles within the DoE and Honeywell, including five years as manager of Honeywell’s IT Centers of Excellence. In that role, he managed strategic direction, and oversaw and managed IT infrastructure components including networking, server and storage systems, middleware and databases. Decker also has served in roles as senior manager for service delivery, and as deputy CIO / associate director for IT and cybersecurity at Honeywell’s locations in Amarillo, Texas, and Kansas City.
Previous to his work in national security, Decker’s technology and leadership experience includes work in the telecommunications, medical and energy industries.
Decker holds a master of business administration and a master of arts degree in management and leadership from Webster University, and a bachelor of science degree in telecommunications management from DeVry Institute of Technology, all located in Kansas City.
Decker holds numerous professional certifications, including black and green belt certifications in Six Sigma business management methodology.
The national search for a permanent successor to Morooney will begin immediately, Jones said.