January 9, 2025 – The Cyber Policy Awards™ organizing committee is pleased to announce selection of 24 finalists who are in contention to receive “The Atlas” trophy, chosen by an august panel of judges from across the cyber community. The winners in each category will be revealed and celebrated at a ceremony held on the evening of Thursday, February 6, 2025 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. Submit a request to attend in person.

During an open nomination period lasting one month, the cyber policy community and broader public were invited to submit an individual, small group, or organization who demonstrated impact during 2024 in the below categories. After careful review of 71 submissions, the judges have selected no more than four finalists per award category.

“Last year’s inaugural edition brought deserved recognition to 16 finalists and five award recipients representing the United States and our partners abroad,” said organizing committee chairman Steve Kelly. “This year builds on that success as we recognize 2024’s cyber policy champions, with additional award categories recognizing key–and often forgotten–achievements in international partnership, research, and journalism.”

The award for U.S. Domestic Policy Impact recognizes those whose efforts have had significant impact on the U.S. domestic policy landscape, such as by materially influencing the community’s thinking and trajectory, overcoming a longstanding and intractable obstacle, or galvanizing broad stakeholder support to take some action. In no particular order, the finalists are as follows:

• CyberOhio for incentivizing voluntary adoption of cyber best practices
• CISA’s Ms. Lauren Zabierek, Mr. Jack Cable, and Mr. Bob Lord for making Secure by Design (SbD) a reality, alongside Mr. Jim Richberg and Mr. Taylor Roberts on behalf of the IT Sector Coordinating Council’s SbD subcommittee for their efforts in advancing the private sector pledge
• Ms. Elizabeth Cannon, Esq. for leadership in prohibiting the use of Kaspersky products in the United States
• The National Security Council’s cyber directorate for advancing key cybersecurity policy initiatives involving software supply chain, consumer products, critical infrastructure, and incident coordination

The award for International Policy Impact recognizes those whose efforts have had significant impact on the international policy landscape, such as a shift in international narratives, viewpoints, or prioritization; the emergence of international consensus or an agreement; or resulting in collective action when previously unlikely. In no particular order, the finalists are as follows:

• Minister Paula Bogantes for leadership in promoting cybersecurity in Costa Rica and on the global stage
• Virtual Routes (previously known as The European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative and the European Cyber Conflict Research Incubator) for research and analysis on cyber conflict and building a European cyber policy network
• Dr. Adam Segal for influencing the United States’ strategy on international cyberspace and digital policy
• Mr. Nemanja Malisevic for creating and leading a coalition of industry and civil society groups to positively influence the cybercrime convention negotiations

New for this year, the award for International Partnership recognizes those who have demonstrated a unique level of commitment to, or teamwork with, a foreign entity regarding a cyber-related foreign policy issue or a significant cybersecurity challenge. In no particular order, the finalists are as follows:

• Mr. Maksym Darkin for delivering cybersecurity assistance to Ukraine at historic scale
• Organization of American States’ Inter-American Committee against Terrorism for its leadership in advancing cyberspace security in the Western Hemisphere
• Common Good Cyber for pursuing sustainable funding mechanisms to foster a more secure and resilient global cyber ecosystem
• The International Counter Ransomware Initiative leadership for shaping the collective international response to ransomware: Ms. Jamila Ade (NGA), Amb. Regine Grienberger and Amb. Maria Adebahr (DEU), Mr. Patrick Boucher (CAN), Mr. Hamish Hansford (AUS), Mr. David Koh (SGP), Ms. Monika Korolioviene (LTU), Ms. Anne Neuberger (USA), and Ms. Chloe Squires (GBR) 

The award for Ecosystem Champion recognizes those whose tenacious efforts have led to broad structural and long-lasting positive impact on the cyber ecosystem through policy changes or by putting policy into action at scale; or those who enable the ecosystem-impacting work of academic institutions, think tanks, or other civil society organizations through significant financial or in-kind support. This newly scoped award combines last year’s award bearing this name with Philanthropy(ist) of the Year. In no particular order, the finalists are as follows:

• Google.org for building a movement for community cyber defense through cybersecurity clinics
• UAE Cyber Security Council for collaborating across borders for a safer digital world
• Mr. J. Michael Daniel for building bridges to secure the future
• Dr. David Mussington for spearheading CISA’s “Shield’s Ready” campaign and leadership amongst the interagency, industry, and allies in responding to the Volt Typhoon threat

New for this year, the award for Research Impact recognizes those whose research has led to a conclusion, discovery, concept, tool, approach, or proposal that can be shown to have advanced or made a substantial contribution to domestic or international cyber policy. Research must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal or otherwise subjected to a credible organizational-level pre-publication review process, and not individually self-published. In no particular order, the finalists are as follows:

• Ms. Sarah Freeman and Mr. Andrew Bochman for developing and institutionalizing consequence-driven cyber-informed engineering
• Dr. Richard Harknett, Dr. Emily Goldman, and Dr. Michael Fischerkeller for their work on the “cyber persistent engagement” concept and its adoption
• Mr. Fredrik Heiding for his research and engagement on AI-enhanced phishing
• NIST’s Cryptographic Technology Group for research leading to post-quantum cryptographic standards: Dr. Dustin Moody, Dr. Angela Robinson, Mr. Andrew Regenscheid, Dr. Lily Chen, Mr. Ray Perlner, Dr. Daniel Tone-Smith, Dr. David Cooper, Mr. Hamilton Silberg, Mr. Noah Waller, Dr. Carl Miller, Dr. Yi-Kai Liu, Mr. Quynh Dang, Dr. Gorjan Alagic, Mr. John Kelsey, and Dr. Rene Peralta

New for this year, the award for Excellence in Journalism recognizes journalists who positively contributed to their readership’s understanding of complex cyber policy issues by correctly detailing technical aspects, drawing complex connections with other relevant events and proceedings, fairly representing tradeoffs and divergent viewpoints, and accurately reflecting policy substance. In no particular order, the finalists are as follows:

• Journalist and author Ms. Kim Zetter
• CyberScoop’s Mr. Tim Starks
• The Wall Street Journal’s Ms. Sarah Krouse, Mr. Dustin Volz, Ms. Aruna Viswanatha, Mr. Robert McMillan, and Mr. Drew FitzGerald
• Recorded Future’s “Click Here” podcast team: Ms. Dina Temple-Raston, Mr. Sean Powers, Ms. Megan Detrie, and Ms. Karen Duffin

New for this year, the award for Lifetime Achievement recognizes those who had a sustained and significant impact on domestic or international cyber policy over the course of their career. Such impact might be evidenced by contributions on numerous issues, a long-term sustained effort on a single issue that eventually culminated in a watershed development, or a combination thereof. Recipients of this award will be listed as members of the Cyber Policy Awards™ Hall of Fame. The recipient’s duration of impactful service must equal or exceed 25 years.

• The judges have selected an individual to receive the Lifetime Achievement award whose identity will be revealed during the ceremony. In accordance with the Cyber Policy Awards™ rules and selection procedures for this category, runners up will be held for future consideration and not publicly announced.

The Atlas Statuette

Recipients will receive the Cyber Policy Award of Merit, which features The Atlas statuette representing the ultimate symbol of strength and endurance. The Ancient Greek Titan Atlas bears the cosmos and turns the sky on his shoulders for eternity. Atlas’ burden represents the skill, strength, and commitment required to positively influence domestic and international cyber policy.

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