Dakota Townsend

Dakota Townsend is an accomplished cybersecurity and information assurance professional with significant experience in IT audit, compliance, and system security management. Currently serving as Vice President and System Security Manager at West Bank since January 2025, Dakota leads the development of comprehensive security strategies to maintain resilient and compliant IT operations. Previous roles include IT Audit and Compliance Manager at Bankers Trust, where Dakota focused on Identity Access Management and IT Risk, and Legal Systems Analyst at Principal Financial Group, providing IT support for legal and corporate ethics departments. Dakota holds a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from Western Governors University and an Associate of Arts and Sciences in Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications from Des Moines Area Community College.