Meet the 2027 Engage National Security 150: Leaders Strengthening the Community Behind the Mission
Engagement has always mattered across the Federal National Security community. Heading into 2027, it matters even more. Technology and AI are changing how agencies operate and respond, threats and mission requirements continue to evolve, and government and industry leaders are being challenged to move faster, adapt to new realities, and find better ways to support the mission. Through all of that change, trusted relationships, shared knowledge, collaboration, and a willingness to work across organizational boundaries remain essential.
The 2027 Engage National Security 150 recognizes the leaders who are helping make that happen.
Selected with input from their peers and the broader national security community, these are executives who stand out not simply because of the positions they hold or the organizations they represent, but because of how they engage. They share knowledge and perspective. They make meaningful connections. They create opportunities for others. They give their time. They bring people together. And, perhaps most importantly, they understand that strengthening the community around them ultimately strengthens the mission.
Across DHS, DOJ, law enforcement, cybersecurity, border and transportation security, emergency management, and the broader national security ecosystem, this year’s Engage National Security 150 includes established executives alongside leaders whose influence continues to grow. Different roles. Different organizations. Different perspectives. What connects them is a demonstrated commitment to showing up, contributing, and helping move the community and mission forward.
To every leader recognized as part of the 2027 Engage National Security 150, congratulations.
This recognition reflects more than professional accomplishment. It reflects the reputation you have built with the people around you and the impact you are having beyond the walls of your own organization. Thank you for continuing to invest your time, experience, relationships, and energy in this community. We are excited to recognize you and to see what you help make possible in the year ahead.
The list of 2027 honorees and the criteria used for their selection are included below. Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations and those volunteers who took part in the review, continuing to elevate those who are #doingitright.
- Jay Alalasundaram, Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Chief Software Officer, CBP
- Tudor Alexandrescu, Vice President, National Security, Tria Federal
- Nick Andersen, Acting Director, CISA
- Anthony Antognoli, Assistant Commandant and Program Executive Officer, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Coast Guard
- Yodit Ayalew, Chief, Data Management Unit, ICE
- Hemant Baidwan, Chief Information Security Officer, Knox Systems
- Gary Barber, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Homeland Security, LMI
- Craig Basham, Deputy Chief Information Officer, US Secret Service
- Ryan Bellack, Executive Director (Acting), Compute, Operations, Resiliency, and Endpoints (CORE) Directorate, DHS
- Sanjeev “Sonny” Bhagowalia, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer, CBP
- John Binks, Federal Systems Integrator Global Account Executive, Vibrint
- David Blair, Chief Innovation Officer, Optimal Solutions and Technologies
- Brian Bonacci, Executive Assistant Director (Acting), Emergency Communications, CISA
- Olivia Trivisani Bowker, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Amivero
- Julie Brewer, Deputy Under Secretary for Science and Technology, DHS
- Rob Brown, Senior Vice President, National Security Solutions, Alpha Omega
- Lynn Ann Casey, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Arc Aspicio
- Soraya Correa, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Industries for the Blind
- Robert Costello, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Merlin Group
- Paul Courtney, Chief Procurement Officer, DHS
- Veva Cousins, Homeland Security Strategic Director, Accenture
- Charmyne Cyr, Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Department of State
- Mike Derrios, Executive Director, Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting, George Mason University
- Baibhav “BoBo” Devkota, Executive Director, Border Enforcement and Management Systems Directorate, CBP
- Frank Dominick, Chief Strategy Officer, Infotrend
- Jennifer Dougherty, Vice President, Growth, Data Surge
- Kevin Duvall, Chief Technology Officer, Department of State
- Timothy Ferguson, Assistant Director, FBI
- Jennifer Ferreira, Vice President, Growth, Airports, Borders and Security, Leidos
- Lisa Fletcher, Director, Department of Homeland Security, Improvix Technologies
- Aubrey Gainfort, Host, Breaking the Standard Podcast
- Jeff Gallimore, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer and Co-Founder, Excella
- Keri Gentilcore, Client Relationship Executive, Deloitte
- Sean Gilman, Vice President, Homeland Security Programs, InDev
- Andy Glaser, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Partner Forces
- Dustin Goetz, Chief Information Officer, ICE
- Lizzie Goldblatt, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, EGBG
- Jaime Gracia, Chief Innovation Officer, The Wolverine Group
- Matthew Graviss, Chief Technology Officer, Public Sector, Atlassian
- Sarah Green, Deputy Chief Procurement Officer, DHS
- Amy Grubb, Digital Transformation Advisor to the Chief Information Officer, FBI
- Tim Hanes, Vice President, Homeland Security, LMI
- Maria Harr, Director, Office Chief of Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Enterprise Digital Services, Coast Guard
- Monica Padron Harris, Founder, The Procurement Pros
- Todd Hemmen, Deputy Assistant Director, Cyber Capabilities Branch, FBI
- Matt House, Associate Director for Capacity Building (Acting) and CDM Program Manager, CISA
- Ty Hughes, Director, Cybersecurity Integrity Center, Department of State
- Kevin Jones, Vice President, IT Infrastructure Division, FBI
- Zhenia Klevitsky, Chief Growth Officer, ITC Federal
- Mike Korba, Director, National Security and Safety, RELI Group
- Chris Kraft, Chief Information Officer and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, US Secret Service
- David Larrimore, Senior Vice President, Solutions Engineering, Amivero
- Ryan Madden, Chief Operating Officer, Dev Technology Group
- Sunil Madhugiri, Chief Technology Officer, Office of Information and Technology, CBP
- Zeke Maldonado, Acting Chief Information Officer, FEMA
- Jessica Maloney, Senior Vice President, Entarian
- James McCament, Chief Digital Transformation Officer, CBP
- Luke McCormack, Former Chief Information Officer, DHS
- Bill McElhaney, Chief Information Officer, National Industries for the Blind
- Bill McKenna, Chief Growth Officer, Trilogy Innovations
- Robert McMullen, Deputy Chief Information Officer, USCIS
- Denise Morales, Assistant Administrator, Contracting and Procurement, TSA
- Shreena Morris, Head of Contracting Activity, Coast Guard
- Tish Mossman, Vice President, National Security and Safety, RELI Group
- Kelli Murphy, Vice President, Citizen Security and Public Services, Peraton
- Jaime Lynn Noble, Director for IT Security and Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Justice Programs, DOJ
- Katie Noyes, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, FBI
- Daniel Oates, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Emerging and Critical Technology Policy, Department of State
- Kay Olive, Executive Director, Founder and Board Chair, Washington Homeland Security Roundtable
- Paula Osborn, Deputy Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer, Department of State
- Yemi Oshinnaiye, Chief Technologist, Capgemini Government Solutions / ITC Federal
- Janet Pence, Director, Customer Experience, CBP
- Jennifer Plozai, Director of Coast Guard Communications, Coast Guard
- Troy Potter, Managing Director, DHS Portfolio, EY
- Bill Pratt, President, GovITWorks
- Carin Quiroga, Strategic Core Account Executive, Databricks
- Joseph Re, Chief Growth Officer, OldRex Technologies
- Erick Reese, Acting Director, Innovation Team, CBP
- Amy Ritualo, Acting Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer, Department of State
- Stanley Robinson Jr., Data Center Operations and DCCO Program Manager, DHS
- Donna Roy, Director, Guidehouse
- Mike Saliter, Executive Vice President, Steampunk
- David Seay, Director, IT Contracting Division, CBP
- Ray Shuler, Partner, 50H Consulting
- Cathlin Sibears, Regional Vice President, Homeland Security, Salesforce
- Ben Smuthkochorn, Division Chief, Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Melissa Stefko, Deputy Executive Director, Planning, Program Analysis and Evaluation Directorate, Office of Human Resource Management, CBP
- Jason Tama, Commander, Coast Guard Cyber Command
- Kristina Tanasichuk, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Government Technology & Services Coalition
- Chad Tetreault, Public Sector Chief Technology Officer, AI Strategy and Governance, Zscaler
- Dina Thompson, Executive Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, DHS
- Rob Thorne, Deputy Chief Information Officer, ICE
- Matt Treadgold, Vice President, National Security, MetaPhase Consulting
- Roman Udin, Vice President, Growth, DT Professional Services
- Anna Urman, Senior Advisor, Acquisition Policy, Department of State
- Paula Wagner, Director, Application Design and Delivery Office, Department of State
- Chuck Wall, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Applications, Department of State
- Ian Wallace, Chief Program Officer, Business Executives for National Security
- Karinda Washington, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator, Enterprise Grant Services, Grants Programs Directorate, FEMA
- Jonathan White, Software Yard Deputy, Coast Guard
- Keith Whiteman, President and Founder, Technology Management Solutions
- Courtney Winship, Bureau Chief Data Officer, Diplomatic Technology, Department of State
- David Yang, Vice President, Civilian and Health Operating Group, ASRC Federal
- Brent Yonk, Assistant Section Chief, Technology and Data Innovation, Counterterrorism Division, FBI
- Michelle Zebrowski, Chief Data Officer, CBP
Congratulations to all of the honorees and thank you to all who participated in the process.
*CEO or President? Stay tuned. New this year, our Federal Executive Leader category will be announced later this September.
We’ll have an opportunity to celebrate many of this year’s Engage leaders together on November 18 in Washington, DC, as part of our annual Elev8GovCon and Engage FedGov gathering. We’ll recognize the Engage leaders who are able to join us, and awards will be available there for this year’s recipients. Of course, being there isn’t part of the recognition. We’d simply love the opportunity to see you, congratulate you in person, and celebrate alongside many of the people who make this community what it is.
To the 2027 Engage National Security 150, congratulations again. And, more importantly, thank you for what you bring to the national security mission and for helping make this a stronger, more connected community.
What Sets Engage Leaders Apart?
Nominees were evaluated using a prescribed rubric, with the following six characteristics serving as core evaluation criteria. These qualities reflect what it truly means to lead with purpose, collaboration, and impact in today’s Federal environment:
Open Communication – They share insights-through events, published thought pieces, or open platforms like LinkedIn – because they believe transparency and shared knowledge drive progress.
Mission-Focused Thinking – Their perspective extends beyond organizational walls. They prioritize the needs of the communities they serve, actively seeking feedback and collaboration to drive better outcomes.
Reliable Partnership – They lead with clarity, humility, and accountability. These individuals are trusted partners who understand their role – and the roles of others – and consistently deliver on shared goals.
Community Presence – These leaders are actively involved. Whether at events, in working groups, or through mentorship, they show up, contribute, and help lift the entire ecosystem.
Perspective-Seeking – Engaged leaders welcome input from a wide range of stakeholders – including users, partners, and community voices – to inform more complete, inclusive, and effective solutions.
Innovation-Minded – They challenge the status quo. By championing new technologies, processes, and ideas, they help drive progress and adaptability in an increasingly complex environment.
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