OTCC joins NVTC Cyber Summit panel on protecting critical infrastructure from automated exploits. AI is changing the pace of cyber threats against critical infrastructure. Attackers can now find and exploit weaknesses at machine speed, and the people defending power grids, hospitals, and other essential services are under pressure to keep up. That was the focus of "Protecting Critical Infrastructure from Automated Exploits," a panel at the Northern Virginia Technology Council's (NVTC) 2026 Cyber Summit & Cyber50 Awards on October 28 in McLean, Virginia. OTCC Executive Director Tatyana Bolton joined Paul Curylo, CISO of Inova Health System, and Sean Stalzer, CISO of Dominion Energy, for a discussion moderated by Shawn Kingsberry, Vice President at SAIC. Defending at machine speed. This year's summit was built around the theme "Cyber at the Speed of AI," and the panel took that idea into the operational world. When an intrusion reaches an operational technology (OT) environment, the consequences go well beyond stolen data. They can mean a disrupted grid, a hospital system knocked offline, or equipment that stops working as designed. The panel brought together perspectives from across that landscape: an energy utility, a regional health system, a federal technology integrator, and a coalition working across the full OT lifecycle. On the agenda. The session focused on the areas where OT defenders are feeling the most pressure: * Legacy industrial systems. Much of the equipment running critical infrastructure was designed decades before today's threats and can't always be patched or replaced quickly. As automated tools make weaknesses easier to find, those systems carry growing risk. * The IT/OT boundary. As IT and OT networks become more connected, the line between them becomes a critical point of defense. Zero Trust segmentation is one way to keep an intrusion on the IT side from reaching the systems that control physical operations. * AI-enabled detection and autonomous monitoring. If attackers are using automation, defenders need it too. AI-driven detection and continuous monitoring can help teams spot threats faster than they could on their own. * Evolving federal requirements. Security expectations for critical infrastructure continue to shift. Operators need requirements that are clear, consistent, and grounded in how OT actually works. * Workforce gaps. Many critical infrastructure operators, especially smaller ones, don't have large security teams. Automation can help resource-constrained organizations get more out of the people they have. "Automated attacks move faster than most OT environments were ever designed to handle," said Tatyana Bolton, Executive Director of OTCC. "Operators need tools that can keep pace, a clear line between IT and OT, and federal requirements that strengthen security instead of adding to the paperwork." Keeping pace. For OTCC, these issues connect directly to its policy work. In its position paper, A Unified Approach to OT Cybersecurity, OT Cyber Coalition called on policymakers to recognize ISA/IEC 62443 as the global standard for OT cybersecurity, so operators can focus on security outcomes instead of a patchwork of overlapping mandates. OT Cyber Coalition has also urged CISA to issue a Binding Operational Directive for OT cybersecurity that would give federal agencies clear baseline requirements, from asset inventory and configuration baselines to backup and recovery. Thank you to NVTC for hosting, to Shawn Kingsberry for moderating, and to Paul Curylo and Sean Stalzer for joining the conversation.

NVTC launches new strategic plan and elects Board leadership at 35th Annual meeting. Jun 26, 2026, 08:00 ET Council unveils new mission, vision, and strategic priorities to position Northern Virginia to lead the next era of innovation MCLEAN, Va., June 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), the trade association representing the region's technology community, unveiled a new strategic plan and elected new Board leadership during its 35th Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, June 25th. The new strategic plan comes at a defining moment for the technology industry as artificial intelligence, including agentic AI, cybersecurity, cloud and edge networks, mobility, robotics, space, and other emerging technologies reshape the global economy. Northern Virginia stands at the center of this transformation and is well positioned to lead the next era of innovation. "Innovation doesn't stand still - and neither does NVTC," said Jennifer Taylor, president and CEO of NVTC. "Our ambitious strategic plan positions NVTC for its next chapter of impact and reinforces our commitment to helping Northern Virginia lead in this next era of innovation. We've done it before, and we will again." For 35 years, NVTC has brought together leaders from business, government, academia, and the nonprofit sector through major waves of technological change - from the rise of the internet to today's advances in artificial intelligence. The refreshed strategic plan builds upon that legacy while positioning the organization for its next chapter of impact. NVTC's mission is to convene and champion the region's technology community to advance innovation, build a future-ready workforce, and drive lasting economic and societal impact. Guided by its vision to fuel innovation that shapes the future, NVTC will focus on four strategic priorities over the next three years: Network - convening the region's technology ecosystem; Voice - championing the technology community; Talent - advancing a future-ready workforce; and Cultivate - deepening engagement and delivering exceptional member value. The successful implementation of this strategy will be guided by NVTC's Board of Directors and leadership team, who welcomed new directors and officers during the Annual Membership Meeting. During the meeting, NVTC members elected 20 industry leaders to the Class of 2029 Board of Directors, filled two vacancies in the Class of 2028, and elected nine FY2027 Chair Appointees. The Board also elected its FY2027 Officers for a two-year term, including Gil Dussek, CEO of Gunnison, as Chair. These incoming Board members and officers will help guide implementation of the strategic plan and advance NVTC's strategic priorities over the next three years. "As we celebrate this milestone and look ahead to our next chapter, I am honored to serve as Chair at such a pivotal moment for our region and our organization," said Dussek. "Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the accelerating pace of technological change are transforming every sector of our economy, creating extraordinary opportunities for Northern Virginia to lead. I look forward to working alongside our Board, members, and partners to advance the region's innovation ecosystem and ensure Northern Virginia remains the nation's premier technology hub." FY2027 Officers The Board elected the following FY2027 officers for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2026: * Chair: Gil Dussek, CEO, Gunnison * President & CEO: Jennifer Taylor, Northern Virginia Technology Council * Chair Elect: Mile Corrigan, CEO, Noblis * Vice Chair: Jennifer Felix, CEO, ASRC Federal * Vice President: Tim Borchert, CEO, Tria Federal * Vice President: Rick Tossavainen, CEO, Dark Wolf * Treasurer: Melinda Covert, Partner, Deloitte * Secretary: Chad Fredrick, President, PEAC US Capital * General Counsel: Ellen Grady, Partner, Pillsbury * Culture Officer: Gregory Washington, President, George Mason University Class of 2029 The NVTC membership elected the following individuals to the Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2026: * Mark Andersen, BDO * Dara Castle, RSM * Greg Fairchild, UVA Northern Virginia * Margie Graves, IBM * Kevin Gundersen, Digital Realty * Kavita Kalatur, NetImpact Strategies * Bo Machayo, Micron Technology * Manish Malhotra, Unissant * T.J. Maloney, AWS * Marc Marlin, KippsDeSanto * Cameron Mayer, Booz Allen * Richard Pineda, CALIBRE Systems * Krystal Putman-Garcia, Casepoint * Brian Roach, Adobe * Pamela Rothka, Empower AI * Timothy Sands, Virginia Tech * James Schmidt, James Madison University * Anil Sharma, 22nd Century Technologies * Eric Trexler, Palo Alto Networks * Joe Woomer, Dominion Energy Class of 2028 The membership also elected the following individuals to fill vacancies in the Class of 2028: * Gerald Kierce, Trustible * Scott Ryan, xAI FY2027 Chair Appointees The following FY2027 Chair Appointees were elected to a one-year term: * Dayne Baird, Carlyle * Phil Carrai, Kratos * Cliff Chiet, iHeartMedia * Susan Hawkins, Amentum * Brian Krause, Clark Construction * Lorraine Lavet, Korn Ferry * John Mengucci, CACI International Inc * Shawn Purvis, Sabel Systems * Matt Strottman, IQT The elections were held during NVTC's 2026 Annual Membership Meeting, where members received an overview of NVTC's refreshed strategic plan and heard from former Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency David Shedd, author of The Great Heist: China's Epic Campaign to Steal America's Secrets, on the intersection of technology, innovation, and global competitiveness. The NVTC Board of Directors brings together leaders from the region's most influential technology companies, government contractors, universities, and innovation organizations. Their collective expertise helps shape NVTC's advocacy efforts, strategic initiatives, and programs that support the continued growth of the region's technology economy. About the Northern Virginia Technology Council The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) convenes and champions the region's tech community to advance innovation, build a future-ready workforce, and drive economic and societal impact. Representing one of the world's most dynamic technology ecosystems, NVTC connects leaders across business, government, academia, and the nonprofit sector to foster collaboration, strengthen competitiveness, and accelerate innovation. Through advocacy, networking, workforce initiatives, and strategic partnerships, NVTC helps fuel innovation that shapes the future. Learn more at nvtc.org. SOURCE Northern Virginia Technology Council