Cyber Policy Awards Nominations

Third Annual Cyber Policy Awards: Submit a Nomination

February 5, 2026 | Washington, DC
On the evening of Thursday, February 5, 2026 in Washington, DC, the Institute for Security and Technology is pleased to host The Third Annual Cyber Policy Awards™. During the gala event, members of the cyber policy community will present The Atlas trophy to deserving recipients who have driven meaningful progress over the last year, and present a special award for lifetime achievement.

Nominations are due on Friday, December 5 at 11:59 pm PT.

Meet last year's winners
Which award are you nominating an individual, small group, or organization for?

U.S. Domestic Policy Impact Nomination

Recognizing those whose efforts have had significant impact on the U.S. domestic policy landscape, such as by materially influencing the community’s thinking and trajectory, overcoming a longstanding and intractable obstacle, or galvanizing broad stakeholder support to take some action.
Learn more about the Cyber Policy Awards.

Rules & Criteria:
- Self-nominations and proximate nominator/nominee relationships. Any member of the cyber policy community—or beyond—may submit a nomination, however, self-nomination is not permitted.
  - The organizing committee’s triage team will screen out clear cases of self-nomination. However, in the event there remains an appearance of relationship or proximity between the nominator and nominee, such will be noted for the judges’ awareness who must take into account how it might affect the strength of the nomination in their evaluation.
- Period of performance. The performance period is November 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. This two-month overlap with the previous award cycle’s performance period ensures that late-year achievements have an opportunity for recognition; however, work from November to December 2025 that was previously nominated is not eligible for re-nomination.
- Nomination narratives. A nomination’s justification narrative is limited to 2500 characters in length and must provide details responsive to the award’s description, criteria, and nexus to the period of performance. Nominators are encouraged to address the requested elements using the “situation, actions, outcomes” format, in order to clearly tie the nominee’s actions to confronting a defined challenge with specified results. Links to supportive materials or publications are welcomed. A lack of any of those elements would weaken the nomination.
- Exclusions. Nominations may not involve lobbying, or persons and activities regulated under U.S. code that seek to influence legislation. Furthermore, active members of the organizing committee and judging panel will not be considered for individual awards.
If you are having difficulty with the function of this form, or have other questions, please email info@cyberpolicyawards.org.
Information about the nominator (you)

Please provide us with some information about how to reach you in case we have questions about your nomination.
Your name*

First NameLast Name
Your organization*
Name of Organization
Your email address*
Your Phone Number*

Country CodePhone Number
Information about your nominee

Please tell us more about who you're nominating for the U.S. Domestic Policy Impact award and how to get in touch with them.
Who are you nominating?*

Small Group Member 3 (optional)
Small Group Member 3 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Small Group Member 4 (optional)
Small Group Member 4 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Small Group Member 5 (optional)
Small Group Member 5 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

International Policy Impact

This award recognizes those whose efforts have had significant impact on the international policy landscape, such as a shift in international views, priorities, agreements, or collective action.
Learn more about the Cyber Policy Awards.

Rules & Criteria:
- Self-nominations and proximate nominator/nominee relationships. Any member of the cyber policy community—or beyond—may submit a nomination, however, self-nomination is not permitted.
  - The organizing committee’s triage team will screen out clear cases of self-nomination. However, in the event there remains an appearance of relationship or proximity between the nominator and nominee, such will be noted for the judges’ awareness who must take into account how it might affect the strength of the nomination in their evaluation.
- Period of performance. The performance period is November 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. This two-month overlap with the previous award cycle’s performance period ensures that late-year achievements have an opportunity for recognition; however, work from November to December 2025 that was previously nominated is not eligible for re-nomination.
- Nomination narratives. A nomination’s justification narrative is limited to 2500 characters in length and must provide details responsive to the award’s description, criteria, and nexus to the period of performance. Nominators are encouraged to address the requested elements using the “situation, actions, outcomes” format, in order to clearly tie the nominee’s actions to confronting a defined challenge with specified results. Links to supportive materials or publications are welcomed. A lack of any of those elements would weaken the nomination.
- Exclusions. Nominations may not involve lobbying, or persons and activities regulated under U.S. code that seek to influence legislation. Furthermore, active members of the organizing committee and judging panel will not be considered for individual awards.
If you are having difficulty with the function of this form, or have other questions, please email info@cyberpolicyawards.org.
Information about the nominator (you)

Please provide us with some information about how to reach you in case we have questions about your nomination.
Your name*

First NameLast Name
Your organization*
Name of Organization
Your email address*
Your Phone Number*

Country CodePhone Number
Information about your nominee

Please tell us more about who you're nominating for the International Policy Impact award and how to get in touch with them.
Who are you nominating?*

Small Group Member 3 (optional)
Small Group Member 3 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Small Group Member 4 (optional)
Small Group Member 4 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Small Group Member 5 (optional)
Small Group Member 5 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

International Partnership

Recognizing those whose efforts have had significant impact on the international policy landscape, such as a shift in international narratives, viewpoints, or prioritization; the emergence of international consensus or an agreement; or collective action when previously unlikely.
Learn more about the Cyber Policy Awards.

Rules & Criteria:
- Self-nominations and proximate nominator/nominee relationships. Any member of the cyber policy community—or beyond—may submit a nomination, however, self-nomination is not permitted.
  - The organizing committee’s triage team will screen out clear cases of self-nomination. However, in the event there remains an appearance of relationship or proximity between the nominator and nominee, such will be noted for the judges’ awareness who must take into account how it might affect the strength of the nomination in their evaluation.
- Period of performance. The performance period is November 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. This two-month overlap with the previous award cycle’s performance period ensures that late-year achievements have an opportunity for recognition; however, work from November to December 2025 that was previously nominated is not eligible for re-nomination.
- Nomination narratives. A nomination’s justification narrative is limited to 2500 characters in length and must provide details responsive to the award’s description, criteria, and nexus to the period of performance. Nominators are encouraged to address the requested elements using the “situation, actions, outcomes” format, in order to clearly tie the nominee’s actions to confronting a defined challenge with specified results. Links to supportive materials or publications are welcomed. A lack of any of those elements would weaken the nomination.
- Exclusions. Nominations may not involve lobbying, or persons and activities regulated under U.S. code that seek to influence legislation. Furthermore, active members of the organizing committee and judging panel will not be considered for individual awards.
If you are having difficulty with the function of this form, or have other questions, please email info@cyberpolicyawards.org.
Information about the nominator (you)

Please provide us with some information about how to reach you in case we have questions about your nomination.
Your name*

First NameLast Name
Your organization*
Name of Organization
Your email address*
Your Phone Number*

Country CodePhone Number
Information about your nominee

Please tell us more about who you're nominating for the International Partnership award and how to get in touch with them.
Who are you nominating?*

Small Group Member 3 (optional)
Small Group Member 3 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Small Group Member 4 (optional)
Small Group Member 4 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Small Group Member 5 (optional)
Small Group Member 5 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Ecosystem Champion

Recognizing those whose tenacious efforts have led to broad structural and long-lasting positive impact on the cyber ecosystem through policy changes or by putting policy into action at scale; or those who enable the ecosystem-impacting work of academic institutions, think tanks, or other civil society organizations through significant financial or in-kind support.
Learn more about the Cyber Policy Awards.

Rules & Criteria:
- Self-nominations and proximate nominator/nominee relationships. Any member of the cyber policy community—or beyond—may submit a nomination, however, self-nomination is not permitted.
  - The organizing committee’s triage team will screen out clear cases of self-nomination. However, in the event there remains an appearance of relationship or proximity between the nominator and nominee, such will be noted for the judges’ awareness who must take into account how it might affect the strength of the nomination in their evaluation.
- Period of performance. The performance period is November 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. This two-month overlap with the previous award cycle’s performance period ensures that late-year achievements have an opportunity for recognition; however, work from November to December 2025 that was previously nominated is not eligible for re-nomination.
- Nomination narratives. A nomination’s justification narrative is limited to 2500 characters in length and must provide details responsive to the award’s description, criteria, and nexus to the period of performance. Nominators are encouraged to address the requested elements using the “situation, actions, outcomes” format, in order to clearly tie the nominee’s actions to confronting a defined challenge with specified results. Links to supportive materials or publications are welcomed. A lack of any of those elements would weaken the nomination.
- Exclusions. Nominations may not involve lobbying, or persons and activities regulated under U.S. code that seek to influence legislation. Furthermore, active members of the organizing committee and judging panel will not be considered for individual awards.
If you are having difficulty with the function of this form, or have other questions, please email info@cyberpolicyawards.org.
Information about the nominator (you)

Please provide us with some information about how to reach you in case we have questions about your nomination.
Your name*

First NameLast Name
Your organization*
Name of Organization
Your email address*
Your Phone Number*

Country CodePhone Number
Information about your nominee

Please tell us more about who you're nominating for the Ecosystem Champion award and how to get in touch with them.
Who are you nominating?*

Small Group Member 3 (optional)
Small Group Member 3 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Small Group Member 4 (optional)
Small Group Member 4 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Small Group Member 5 (optional)
Small Group Member 5 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Research Impact

This award recognizes those whose novel scholarly research has led to a conclusion, discovery, concept, tool, approach, or proposal that can be shown to have advanced or made a substantial contribution to domestic or international cyber policy.
Learn more about the Cyber Policy Awards.

Rules & Criteria:
- Special criteria for the Research Impact Award.
  - Nominations must identify a specific paper, report, or research publication as the primary basis, but may be supplemented with context on how it fits within a larger body of work.
  - Research must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal, conference proceedings, or otherwise subjected to a credible organizational-level pre-publication review process, and not individually self-published.
  - Research should test a hypothesis or present findings that have direct policy implications. This category excludes research on specific malicious actor activities, vulnerabilities, or adversary techniques. Research on macro trends in aggregate adversary behaviors, vulnerability exploitation, or effectiveness of adversary techniques is acceptable.
- Self-nominations and proximate nominator/nominee relationships. Any member of the cyber policy community—or beyond—may submit a nomination, however, self-nomination is not permitted.
  - The organizing committee’s triage team will screen out clear cases of self-nomination. However, in the event there remains an appearance of relationship or proximity between the nominator and nominee, such will be noted for the judges’ awareness who must take into account how it might affect the strength of the nomination in their evaluation.
- Period of performance. The performance period is November 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. This two-month overlap with the previous award cycle’s performance period ensures that late-year achievements have an opportunity for recognition; however, work from November to December 2025 that was previously nominated is not eligible for re-nomination.
- Nomination narratives. A nomination’s justification narrative is limited to 2500 characters in length and must provide details responsive to the award’s description, criteria, and nexus to the period of performance. Nominators are encouraged to address the requested elements using the “situation, actions, outcomes” format, in order to clearly tie the nominee’s actions to confronting a defined challenge with specified results. Links to supportive materials or publications are welcomed. A lack of any of those elements would weaken the nomination.
- Exclusions. Nominations may not involve lobbying, or persons and activities regulated under U.S. code that seek to influence legislation. Furthermore, active members of the organizing committee and judging panel will not be considered for individual awards.
If you are having difficulty with the function of this form, or have other questions, please email info@cyberpolicyawards.org.
Information about the nominator (you)

Please provide us with some information about how to reach you in case we have questions about your nomination.
Your name*

First NameLast Name
Your organization*
Name of Organization
Your email address*
Your Phone Number*

Country CodePhone Number
Information about your nominee

Please tell us more about who you're nominating for the Research Impact award and how to get in touch with them.
Who are you nominating?*

Small Group Member 3 (optional)
Small Group Member 3 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Small Group Member 4 (optional)
Small Group Member 4 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Small Group Member 5 (optional)
Small Group Member 5 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Excellence in Journalism

This award recognizes journalists who positively contributed to their readership’s understanding of complex cyber policy issues by correctly detailing technical aspects, drawing complex connections with other relevant events and proceedings, fairly representing tradeoffs and divergent viewpoints, and accurately reflecting policy substance.
Learn more about the Cyber Policy Awards.

Rules & Criteria:
- Special criteria for the Excellence in Journalism award.
  - Only individual or small group nominees (no organizations).
- Self-nominations and proximate nominator/nominee relationships. Any member of the cyber policy community—or beyond—may submit a nomination, however, self-nomination is not permitted.
  - The organizing committee’s triage team will screen out clear cases of self-nomination. However, in the event there remains an appearance of relationship or proximity between the nominator and nominee, such will be noted for the judges’ awareness who must take into account how it might affect the strength of the nomination in their evaluation.
- Period of performance. The performance period is November 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. This two-month overlap with the previous award cycle’s performance period ensures that late-year achievements have an opportunity for recognition; however, work from November to December 2025 that was previously nominated is not eligible for re-nomination.
- Nomination narratives. A nomination’s justification narrative is limited to 2500 characters in length and must provide details responsive to the award’s description, criteria, and nexus to the period of performance. Nominators are encouraged to address the requested elements using the “situation, actions, outcomes” format, in order to clearly tie the nominee’s actions to confronting a defined challenge with specified results. Links to supportive materials or publications are welcomed. A lack of any of those elements would weaken the nomination.
  - For this award category, please provide links to the journalistic content in question that is not subject to a paywall. If the nominator is having difficulty sourcing such links before the submission deadline, feel free to submit the nomination with best-available links and follow up with the organizing committee soon thereafter at info@cyberpolicyawards.org to submit alternative formats (e.g., saved PDFs).
- Exclusions. Nominations may not involve lobbying, or persons and activities regulated under U.S. code that seek to influence legislation. Furthermore, active members of the organizing committee and judging panel will not be considered for individual awards.
If you are having difficulty with the function of this form, or have other questions, please email info@cyberpolicyawards.org.
Information about the nominator (you)

Please provide us with some information about how to reach you in case we have questions about your nomination.
Your name*

First NameLast Name
Your organization*
Name of Organization
Your email address*
Your Phone Number*

Country CodePhone Number
Information about your nominee

Please tell us more about who you're nominating for the Excellence in Journalism award and how to get in touch with them.
Who are you nominating?*

Small Group Member 3 (optional)
Small Group Member 3 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Small Group Member 4 (optional)
Small Group Member 4 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Small Group Member 5 (optional)
Small Group Member 5 (optional)
Group member's name

First NameLast Name
Group member's organization
Name of Organization
Group member's title
Group member's email address
example@example.com

Nomination Narrative
Nomination Narrative
Pithy title or short description of the celebrated accomplishment/contribution.*
Provide a narrative that describes the underlying situation or problem to be confronted, the actions that the nominee(s) took (be specific), and the outcome/result of those actions. Please provide relevant temporal references, so that the activities or accomplishment can be verified as having a nexus to the performance period of November 1, 2025 through the current date. Links to supplemental materials or publications are welcomed. Character limit: 2500 characters.*

0/2500

Lifetime Achievement

This award recognizes those who had a sustained and significant impact on domestic or international cyber policy over the course of their career. Such impact might be evidenced by contributions on numerous issues, a long-term sustained effort on a single issue that eventually culminated in a watershed development, or a combination thereof. Recipients of this award will be listed as members of the Cyber Policy Awards’ Hall of Fame.
Learn more about the Cyber Policy Awards.

Rules & Criteria:
- Special criteria for the Lifetime Achievement award.
  - This is an individual award.
  - Nominees’ duration of impactful service must equal or exceed 25 years.
  - An articulated nexus to the current award cycle’s performance period is not required.
- Self-nominations and proximate nominator/nominee relationships. Any member of the cyber policy community—or beyond—may submit a nomination, however, self-nomination is not permitted.
  - The organizing committee’s triage team will screen out clear cases of self-nomination. However, in the event there remains an appearance of relationship or proximity between the nominator and nominee, such will be noted for the judges’ awareness who must take into account how it might affect the strength of the nomination in their evaluation.
- Nomination narratives. A nomination’s justification narrative is limited to 2500 characters in length and must provide details responsive to the award’s description and criteria. Nominators are encouraged to address the requested elements using roles the nominee held, challenges confronted, specific actions taken, and outcome of that achieved impact. Links to supportive materials or publications are welcomed. A lack of any of those elements would weaken the nomination.
- Exclusions. Nominations may not involve lobbying, or persons and activities regulated under U.S. code that seek to influence legislation. Furthermore, active members of the organizing committee and judging panel will not be considered for individual awards.
If you are having difficulty with the function of this form, or have other questions, please email info@cyberpolicyawards.org.
Information about the nominator (you)

Please provide us with some information about how to reach you in case we have questions about your nomination.
Your name*

First NameLast Name
Your organization*
Name of Organization
Your email address*
Your Phone Number*

Country CodePhone Number
Information about your nominee

Please tell us more about who you're nominating for the Lifetime Achievement award and how to get in touch with them.
Nominee's name*

First NameLast Name
Nominee's organization*
Name of Organization
Nominee's title*
Nominee's email address*
example@example.com
Nomination Narrative
Pithy title or short description of the celebrated accomplishment/contribution.*
Provide a narrative that characterizes the nominee's career impact. Include details regarding roles the nominee held, challenges confronted, specific actions taken, and outcome that achieved impact. Links to supplemental materials or publications are welcomed. Character limit: 2500 characters.*

0/2500

Submit your nomination
Thank you for taking the time to fill out this nomination form! Have another idea for significant contributions to the cyber policy community in 2026 that you'd like to recognize? Submit another nomination here.

What happens next?

Step #1: Triage. The organizing committee’s triage team will screen all nominations for eligibility and sufficiency. In the event multiple nominations for the same nominee(s) and same accomplishment are received, they will be considered together. The organizing committee may contact relevant nominators to resolve any alignment differences.

Step #2: Judging. Neither the Institute for Security and Technology (IST) nor members of the organizing committee select the award finalists and recipients; this duty is fulfilled by an independent panel of distinguished judges.

Step #3: Announcing Finalists. IST will publicly announce the award finalists and make personal outreach one month prior to the event.

Step #4: Revealing Award Recipients. The identity of recipients will remain a secret until revealed on-stage during the ceremony. The only exception to this practice is for the Lifetime Achievement award; the recipient is pre-notified so they can ensure loved ones are in attendance and are prepared to receive the award.

Make sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates.
Certify your submission*

I certify that my submission complies with all Cyber Policy Awards rules & criteria.
Should be Empty:

Third Annual Cyber Policy Awards: Submit a Nomination

Nominations are due on Friday, December 5 at 11:59 pm PT.

U.S. Domestic Policy Impact Nomination

Information about the nominator (you)

Information about your nominee

Small Group Member 1

Small Group Member 2

Small Group Member 3 (optional)

Small Group Member 4 (optional)

Small Group Member 5 (optional)

Nomination Narrative

International Policy Impact

Information about the nominator (you)

Information about your nominee

Small Group Member 1

Small Group Member 2

Small Group Member 3 (optional)

Small Group Member 4 (optional)

Small Group Member 5 (optional)

Nomination Narrative

International Partnership

Information about the nominator (you)

Information about your nominee

Small Group Member 1

Small Group Member 2

Small Group Member 3 (optional)

Small Group Member 4 (optional)

Small Group Member 5 (optional)

Nomination Narrative

Ecosystem Champion

Information about the nominator (you)

Information about your nominee

Small Group Member 1

Small Group Member 2

Small Group Member 3 (optional)

Small Group Member 4 (optional)

Small Group Member 5 (optional)

Nomination Narrative

Research Impact

Information about the nominator (you)

Information about your nominee

Small Group Member 1

Small Group Member 2

Small Group Member 3 (optional)

Small Group Member 4 (optional)

Small Group Member 5 (optional)

Nomination Narrative

Excellence in Journalism

Information about the nominator (you)

Information about your nominee

Small Group Member 1

Small Group Member 2

Small Group Member 3 (optional)

Small Group Member 4 (optional)

Small Group Member 5 (optional)

Nomination Narrative

Lifetime Achievement

Information about the nominator (you)

Information about your nominee

Nomination Narrative

Submit your nomination

What happens next?