The Cyber Guild Announces 5th Annual Leadership Recognition Awards Honorees

September 16, 2025 at 08:55 AM EDT

Program honors cyber leaders working to create a safer digital world

The Cyber Guild, a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to building a sustainable cybersecurity ecosystem, today announced the honorees of its fifth annual Leadership Recognition Awards.

This awards program spotlights individuals who drive progress, elevate innovation and lead with purpose in the face of rapidly evolving cyber threats. With cybersecurity central to national resilience, these five outstanding leaders are shaping the future of the digital landscape.

The 2025 Cyber Guild Leadership Recognition Award honorees are:

Ambassador – Christopher Ahlberg, Co-Founder and CEO Recorded Future: A pioneer influencing national and international decision-makers across sectors to drive change and elevate new perspectives.
Changemaker – Annie Fixler, Director, Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, and Snr Fellow Foundation for Defense of Democracies: An innovator promoting the adoption of emerging technologies and standards to strengthen the cybersecurity ecosystem.
Guardian – Morgan Adamski, Cyber Data and Technology Risk Leader, Principal PwC, and Former Exec. Director US Cyber Command: A leader building strategic alliances and partnerships to bolster the resilience of our communities and networks.
Rising Leader – Danielle Rowell, CISO, US Office of Personnel Management: A rising star recognized for her leadership, technological contributions, and dedication to building a more secure world.
Champion – Parham Eftekhari, Founder and Chair Inst. For Critical Infrastructure Technology, and EVP CyberRisk Alliance: A trailblazer working to attract, advance, and retain a diverse and inclusive cybersecurity workforce.

“Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing threats that affects all of us—and it requires an all-hands-on-deck approach,” said Debbie Sallis, Executive Director of The Cyber Guild. “Our awardees are not only responding to that challenge—they’re defining how we overcome it.”

Honorees were nominated by their peers and selected by a panel of Cyber Guild Luminaires—an invitation-only group of the nation’s most accomplished cybersecurity professionals and thought leaders.

Christopher Ahlberg, 2025 Ambassador awardee, commented, "Building real resilience and innovation in cybersecurity means tapping into the widest possible range of expertise and experience. For intelligence-led organizations, fresh thinking and great teamwork aren't ideals—they're mission critical."

The honorees will be formally recognized at an awards ceremony on October 9, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. The Leadership Recognition Awards will occur immediately following The Cyber Guild’s annual UWIC—Uniting Women in Cybersecurity—conference.

Morgan Adamski, recipient of the 2025 Guardian Award, and a panelist at UWIC 2025, said “A secure cybersecurity ecosystem is built, not bought - it comes from sharing threat intelligence, common best practices, and rehearsed playbooks that let government and industry respond as one. The Cyber Guild Uniting Women in Cyber conference and other like-minded communities that focus on working together are key so no one entity feels as though they have to fight cyber threats alone.”

To register for UWIC’25 and to learn more about The Cyber Guild, including previous award recipients, please visit https://thecyberguild.org.

About The Cyber Guild

The Cyber Guild Foundation is a vibrant and growing community of cybersecurity leaders, professionals, allies, and partners. The organization is committed to activating a powerful coalition to foster a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cybersecurity ecosystem. Together, The Cyber Guild community is accelerating innovation and shaping a safer, more secure future for all.