February 7, 2025 – The Cyber Policy Awards™ organizing committee is pleased to announce the seven recipients of this year’s Atlas trophies. These prestigious honors recognize those exceptional members of the cyber policy community whose pivotal work shaped the cybersecurity landscape in 2024. 

From policymakers to journalists to software developers, this year’s finalists, selected by an independent panel of judges from nominations submitted by the broader public, reflect the dedication, ingenuity, and acumen of the broader cyber policy community. 

At the Second Annual Cyber Policy Awards™ celebration in Washington, D.C. this week, hosted by the Institute for Security and Technology (IST) in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and presented by Microsoft, recipients were announced and celebrated before a packed house of senior policy leaders, veteran cyber experts, and eminent members of industry. 

Organizing committee chair and IST Chief Trust Officer Steve Kelly, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Cyber Policy and Operations Vincent Voci, and Microsoft VP of Customer Security and Trust Amy Hogan-Burney opened Thursday’s celebration. 

Steve highlighted the importance of creating a space where the community can come together to reflect on past achievements, look ahead to future goals, and simply enjoy being part of something meaningful. 

“For too long, we’ve moved from one year to the next without pausing to celebrate the hard work and dedication that often goes unnoticed. The work done by so many in this room—and those who couldn’t be here—isn’t always glamorous, but it’s vital,” Steve said.

In his remarks, Vincent spoke to the path ahead: “Tonight, we honor individuals, teams, and organizations whose dedication and hard work over the past year have made a significant impact. But beyond recognition, this is a moment to look forward,” he said.

Amy began by acknowledging how gatherings like this are often driven by urgency rather than celebration. “Usually, we come together in response to challenges—crises that demand quick action or discussions on how to build stronger, more resilient systems. But tonight is about something different.” She continued by encouraging the audience to embrace the moment. “We rarely give ourselves the space to pause, recognize, and celebrate the hard work we do.”

She concluded with a reminder of the collective commitment shared by the community. “Cyber is an issue that transcends politics. Across industries, government sectors, and international borders, we’re all working together to strengthen cybersecurity. So let’s celebrate what we’ve achieved—and look forward to what’s ahead.”

Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže joined the ceremony for a keynote on the importance of public private partnerships and building cyber resilience to combat foreign threat actors.

“People are frustrated, and law enforcement is stretched thin. So the question is—what can we do better to support them? This is a challenge for all of us. I look to the government, think tanks, and industry alike. We must do more to help our citizens feel secure—not just by promoting good cyber hygiene, but by ensuring that from a young age, people gain the skills, knowledge, and awareness needed to navigate the digital world safely,” Minister Braže said.

The recipients are as follows:

The U.S. Domestic Policy Impact Award – presented by R Street Institute Cybersecurity and Emerging Threats Director and Resident Fellow Brandon Pugh and House Committee on Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Staff Director Alexandra Seymour – went to Lauren Zabierek, Jack Cable, and Bob Lord, for making Secure by Design (SbD) a reality while at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, alongside Jim Richberg and Taylor Roberts on behalf of the IT Sector Coordinating Councils’ SbD subcommittee for their efforts in advancing the private sector pledge.  

Accepting the award, Bob Lord drew attention to the evolution of safety standards, comparing the automotive industry’s past to today’s cybersecurity challenges, and thanking the Awards for spotlighting Secure by Design.  “In 1965, Ralph Nader published Unsafe at Any Speed, exposing the dangers in American-made cars. One key lesson is that automakers couldn’t improve safety until society believed it was possible. Now, in 2025—with ransomware, constant cyberattacks, and foreign intelligence infiltrating our networks—we face a similar challenge in software security,” Bob said. “The Secure by Design program is rooted in the same idea: we can’t make software truly safer until we all believe transformative change is achievable.”

Taylor Roberts underscored the importance of the Secure by Design work as a testament to the strength of public-private partnerships in enhancing national cyber resilience. “The core principles of the Secure by Design movement now extend to Secure by Demand, giving customers needed clarity on how to distinguish manufacturers based on their security practices and commitments. This has the potential to greatly improve both cybersecurity and global resilience,” he said. 

Hugh Carroll, speaking on behalf of Fortinet colleague Jim Richberg, stressed the critical need for ongoing collaboration to bolster security efforts, “It’s imperative that we continue to advance these efforts through close partnerships with CISA, its interagency partners, and private sector stakeholders committed to strengthening our nation’s cyber resilience.”

The International Policy Impact Award – presented by Venable LLP Global Security and Technology Strategy Director Adam Dobell and IST Chief Strategy Officer Megan Stifel – went to Dr. Adam Segal for influencing the United States’ strategy on international cyberspace and digital policy. 

Adam reflected on his experience drafting the strategy. “Coming from the outside—from the Council on Foreign Relations—this was my first time working within the U.S. government. I had the opportunity to engage with countless civil servants and Foreign Service officers across the interagency, and I’ve been truly inspired by their dedication to the United States and our national interests.”

He noted that the new administration is required by law to draft a new strategy, and so the impact of the 2024 strategy may be somewhat limited. “However, I believe many of the ideas and policies we’ve put forward will help guide the new administration, providing a foundation they can build upon. These ideas are aligned with serving U.S. interests.”

New this year, the International Partnership Award – presented by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Cyber Policy and Operations Vincent Voci and Independent Community Bankers of America Vice President of Operational Risk & Cybersecurity Policy Anjelica Dortch – went to the International Counter Ransomware Initiative leadership for shaping the collective international response to ransomware: Jamila Ade from Nigeria, Ambassador Regine Grienberger and Ambassador Maria Adebahr from Germany, Patrick Boucher from Canada, Hamish Hansford from Australia, David Koh from Singapore, Monika Korolioviene from Lithuania, Anne Neuberger from the United States, and Chloe Squires from the United Kingdom.

In the name of international partnership, six representatives of the CRI leadership from Singapore, Germany, Canada, Australia, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom expressed their gratitude for the award, while stressing the ongoing global threat of ransomware and the need for continued collaboration. 

“It’s an honor to be recognized among such a high-performing and inspiring group of nominees. The colleagues here represent the group of states that lead the different workstreams in the Counter Ransomware Initiative, and this award is the culmination of four years of international collaboration. We would like to thank the United States, which has driven this initiative forward since 2021,” they said. “It’s vital that we continue to work together across the globe to counter ransomware. The threat continues to evolve, with ransomware payments totaling over $1 billion in 2023 and incidents impacting our most critical sectors. Collaboration is vital in combating these ruthless cyber criminals. The CRI has become the largest multinational, multilateral partnership globally outside of the United Nations. We continue to drive the initiative forward, hosting the next in-person CRI event at CyberUK in Manchester in May 2025, where all CRI members will be encouraged to discuss the ongoing and emerging work the forum is taking forward.” 

The Ecosystem Championship Award – presented by Paladin Global Institute Senior Director Devin Lynch and Southern Company Strategic Security Policy Director Michele Guido – went to J. Michael Daniel for building bridges to secure the future. 

Michael Daniel credited his Atlas to his colleagues at the Cyber Threat Alliance and all those working to make threat intelligence sharing a reality. “This award isn’t really about me—it’s about all of us. It reflects the collective efforts of the entire ecosystem. At the Cyber Threat Alliance, our mission is to connect everyone in this room, fostering collaboration so we can all be more effective in defending cyberspace,” he said. “I’m honored to accept this award on behalf of the many individuals who have worked tirelessly to make threat intelligence sharing a reality. It’s something that’s easy to talk about but incredibly challenging to implement.”

The Research Impact Award – presented by retired Air Force Colonel, commercial jet pilot, and Aerospace Village Chairman of the Board Steve Luczynski and U.C. Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity Program Director of Public Interest Cybersecurity Sarah Powazek – went to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’s Cryptographic Technology Group for research leading to post-quantum cryptographic standards: Dr. Dustin Moody, Dr. Angela Robinson, Andrew Regenscheid, Dr. Lily Chen, Ray Perlner, Dr. Daniel Tone-Smith, Dr. David Cooper, Hamilton Silberg, Noah Waller, Dr. Carl Miller, Dr. Yi-Kai Liu, Quynh Dang, and Dr. Gorjan Alagic.  

Accepting the award, Dr. Angela Robinson expressed gratitude on behalf of the team. “We truly appreciate everyone who took the time to recognize and celebrate our work. The NIST PQC team is an extraordinary group of researchers—mathematicians, computer scientists, cryptographers, and cryptanalysts. Our collaborations and combination of expertise has helped make this project possible, and we’re excited to continue this important work well into the future,” she said.

“Post-quantum cryptographic standards were, and still are, one of the most critical challenges on the horizon. It’s been an incredible privilege to be part of this initiative, and we’re all deeply grateful for the recognition,” Dr. Carl Miller said.

The Excellence in Journalism Award – presented by Microsoft Senior Director for Cybersecurity Policy Tim Maurer and NIST Program Manager for the Cybersecurity for Internet of Things (IoT) and AI and Cybersecurity Programs Kat Megas – went to Sarah Krouse, Dustin Volz, Aruna Viswanatha, Robert McMillan, and Drew FitzGerald of The Wall Street Journal for their reporting on the ‘Salt Typhoon’ cyberespionage campaign. 

Aruna Viswanatha reflected on reporting on the Salt Typhoon hack, and the vital role of journalists. “Our goal is simple: to piece together the story and inform the public about what’s really happening. So, thank you for this recognition—and please, keep picking up the phone when we call,” she said.

Drew FitzGerald noted that they share the award with a team of editors and experts working behind the scenes. “This was a massive team effort—not just among us as reporters, but with the support of editors and a dedicated team behind the scenes. We’re incredibly grateful for everyone who provided guidance, whether it was on the record, off the record, or even just background insights.”

Finally, the Lifetime Achievement Award – presented by former Global Forum on Cyber Expertise President Chris Painter and Center for Strategic and International Studies Senior Advisor Suzanne Spaulding – went to Leonard Bailey for being an indispensable resource for the cyber community; a leader in driving collaboration among law enforcement, cybersecurity, and the intelligence communities; and a source of exceptional knowledge, judgement, selflessness, calm, and humor throughout his three decades of public service at the Justice Department. 

“Being recognized by your peers is always special, but knowing the caliber of individuals involved in this decision—each with their own remarkable contributions to national security and cybersecurity—makes it truly humbling. This is a very meaningful moment for me,” Leonard said, accepting the award. 

He continued, thanking his family and colleagues for their years of support. “Cyber policy is often described as a team sport, and that couldn’t be more true. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside so many talented individuals from the FBI, Secret Service, DOD, DHS, and especially my colleagues at the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. They are simply the best—innovative, dedicated, and exactly what you’d hope for in public servants.”

Thank you to the cyber policy community for submitting nominations and supporting the event; to our panel of independent judges for their time and expertise; to the Cyber Policy Awards organizing committee for their support; and to our host, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and presenting partner Microsoft for making this event such a success. 

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