April 22, 2025 – This spring, the Institute for Security and Technology’s (IST) Future of Digital Security pillar welcomes three new team members. Today, we are excited to announce the addition to our team of Nicholas Leiserson as Senior Vice President for Policy, Michael Klein as Senior Director for Preparedness and Response, and Tory Igoe as Future of Digital Security Associate. 

“IST unites key stakeholders across industry, civil society, and government to advance the future of digital security–and to keep us all safe from digital threats. In 2025, we are focusing our efforts on providing tailored cyber hygiene guidance and resources to the communities that need it most, advancing operational collaboration, clarifying and advocating for incentives to promote better preparation and response, and supporting the protection of ‘target rich, cyber poor’ entities,” said Megan Stifel, IST Chief Strategy Officer and Ransomware Task Force (RTF) Executive Director. “Nicholas, Michael, and Tory bring unique perspectives and invaluable expertise to help us drive this important work forward. We’re excited to welcome them to the team.” 

Nicholas Leiserson joins IST with 15 years of experience addressing cybersecurity risk and resilience at the White House and on Capitol Hill. He most recently served as the Assistant National Cyber Director for Cyber Policy and Programs at the Office of National Cyber Director, where he led the office’s national cybersecurity policy development, including those pertaining to critical infrastructure protection, regulatory harmonization, cyber insurance, and software liability. Leiserson was an inaugural recipient of the U.S Domestic Policy Impact Cyber Policy Award of Merit for his leadership drafting the 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan.

“Cybersecurity remains one of our nation’s greatest unmanaged risks,” said Leiserson, who spent nearly a dozen years working on cybersecurity policy in Congress before moving to the White House. “As a critical action think tank, IST is uniquely positioned to meaningfully advance scalable policy solutions that enable the digital future we seek. I look forward to working with the IST team and network of scholars and industry practitioners to develop high-leverage policy interventions that make cyberspace safer.”

Michael Klein comes to IST from the U.S. Department of Education, where he served as Senior Advisor for Cybersecurity, leading the department’s K-12 cyber policy work with federal, state, local, and private partners. He brings with him nearly 20 years of experience across K-12 education as a teacher, coach, consultant, and district leader. 

“After having many opportunities to learn from the brilliant IST team in my time at the Department of Education, it’s a dream to join IST and work at the intersection of technology policy and national security! I’m excited to focus on improving the defensibility and resilience of ‘target rich, cyber poor’ critical infrastructure sectors – including K-12 schools – against ransomware and other cyber threats,” Michael said. 

As Future of Digital Security Associate, Tory Igoe will support IST’s cybersecurity portfolio, including the RTF and the UnDisruptable27 Initiative. With a background in foreign service, international affairs, and cyber conflict, Tory previously conducted risk analyses and supported evacuation operations in conflict zones as a  Coordinating Security Specialist at an international crisis management firm. She recently graduated from Georgetown University with an M.S. in Foreign Service, concentrating in Science, Technology, and International Affairs and Persian language.