The Institute for Security and Technology is thrilled to announce talented new additions to our growing team. These staff members will further IST’s mission to design solutions that enhance the security of the global commons. 

On our core team, we are excited to announce that defense policy expert Alice Hunt Friend will join us as our new Vice President for Research and Analysis. Most recently, Alice served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Her deep expertise in nuclear policy, African, Asian and Middle Eastern affairs, and experience leading counterterrorism policy, will expand IST’s focus. 

“I am thrilled to join the exceptional team at IST. I grew up in Silicon Valley, made a career in the defense community in Washington, DC, and am excited to help these two communities tackle some of the biggest challenges to national and international security” said Friend. 

Elizabeth Vish joins IST’s core team as a Senior Advisor for International Cyber Engagement, bringing her unique experience in cybersecurity and U.S. foreign policy to our mission. Elizabeth previously served as a member of the State Department’s cyber foreign policy team, most recently in the Cyberspace and Digital Policy Bureau, where she developed and implemented policies relating to international security in cyberspace. During her time there, she focused closely on how to build coalitions with partner governments to address cybersecurity and better understand foreign policy implications of cybersecurity.

“I am excited to join the IST team to help expand the reach of our work across the globe.  Solving emerging security risks requires global cooperation, and I look forward to joining the IST team to broaden the reach of the great work on these topics” said Vish. 

We are also honored to be able to expand our adjunct advising team with the addition of Dr. Neil Jenkins, who serves as the Chief Analytic Officer at the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA), where he leads analytic and operational collaboration efforts. His deep expertise includes private sector cyber policy and U.S. election security. 

“I am beyond excited to work with Phil, Megan, and the rest of the IST team on a more regular basis. IST has quickly made an outsized impact in the cyber policy world and I am eager to help wherever I can. We will continue to strengthen the relationship between IST and the Cyber Threat Alliance to improve our goal of protecting users, disrupting malicious actors, and elevating our overall security” said Jenkins.

These additions were made possible by our expanding network of funders and underscores the exciting growth IST continues to see. 

“We are excited to welcome Alice, Elizabeth, and Neil to the IST family. Individually these experts bring decades of experience on their respective issues. Collectively their expertise will be an exponential boost to our cutting edge defense and cyber programs. We look forward to expanding our work on strategic competition and operational collaboration between public and private sectors, and extending this work globally in partnership with them and our Network for Global Security” said Megan Stifel, Chief Strategy Officer. 

Be sure to follow IST on Twitter to stay up to date as we expand our work to solve emerging security threats, by creating a bridge between technology and policy leaders.