On Feb. 6, the Institute for Security and Technology (IST) hosted the Second Annual Cyber Policy Awards, uniting the U.S. cyber policy community alongside key international partners. The event celebrated those who have made notable contributions in the past year, while also addressing the emerging challenges facing the field. The awards were hosted in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and presented by Microsoft.

The awards ceremony recognized individuals whose work has shaped U.S. and global cyber policy, driven international collaborations, advanced the cyber ecosystem, and contributed through innovative research and journalism. Their enduring impact on the field was honored, with the following individuals receiving recognition:

The U.S. Domestic Policy Impact Award: 

• Presented to Lauren Zabierek, Jack Cable, and Bob Lord for their pivotal role in making Secure by Design (SbD) a reality at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), alongside Jim Richberg and Taylor Roberts from the IT Sector Coordinating Councils’ SbD subcommittee for advancing the private sector pledge.

The International Policy Impact Award: 

• Presented to Dr. Adam Segal by Venable LLP Global Security and Technology Strategy Director Adam Dobell, in recognition of his significant influence on shaping the United States' strategy for international cyberspace and digital policy.  

The International Partnership Award: 

• New this year, the award was presented to the leadership of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI). The award recognized their efforts in shaping the global response to ransomware, including six CRI leadership representatives from several countries: Jamila Ade (Nigeria), Ambassador Regine Grienberger and Ambassador Maria Adebahr (Germany), Patrick Boucher (Canada), Hamish Hansford (Australia), David Koh (Singapore), Monika Korolioviene (Lithuania), Anne Neuberger (United States), and Chloe Squires (United Kingdom).

The Ecosystem Champion Award: 

• Presented to J. Michael Daniel in recognition of his efforts to build bridges for a more secure future. Daniel attributed the award to his colleagues at the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA) and others dedicated to making threat intelligence sharing a reality. He emphasized that the award is not just for him but for the entire ecosystem, reflecting their collective efforts.

The Research Impact Award: 

• Presented to the Cryptographic Technology Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for their groundbreaking research on post-quantum cryptographic standards. The NIST team, honored for their exceptional contributions, included the following recipients: 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.

The Excellence in Journalism Award: 

• Presented to Sarah Krouse, Dustin Volz, Aruna Viswanatha, Robert McMillan, and Drew FitzGerald of The Wall Street Journal for their reporting on the Salt Typhoon cyber espionage campaign. Viswanatha emphasized the importance of journalism in uncovering the truth, and FitzGerald highlighted the team effort behind the reporting, acknowledging the editors and experts who provided invaluable support throughout the process.

The Lifetime Achievement Award: 

• Presented to Leonard Bailey for being an invaluable resource to the cyber community, a leader in fostering collaboration among law enforcement, cybersecurity, and intelligence sectors, and a source of exceptional knowledge, judgment, selflessness, calm, and humor during his three decades of public service at the Department of Justice.

In its second year, IST’s Cyber Policy Awards continue to honor the tireless efforts that shape and strengthen the cybersecurity landscape, inspiring future innovation and collaboration in the years to come.

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