A night to remember: Closing out the 2025 ICIT Gala and Fundraiser

The 2025 Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT) Gala and Fundraiser held on Jan. 15, 2026, at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. was nothing short of extraordinary.

From the glitz and glam of attendees posing for photos in front of the "Step and Repeat" banner backdrop to the powerful conversations happening across the room, the evening was a true celebration of leadership, partnership, and shared commitment to securing the systems that underpin everyday life.

This year's Gala lived up to its reputation as one of the most memorable nights for the critical infrastructure and cybersecurity community — elegant, energizing, and far from a traditional stuffy D.C. affair.

Colleagues and friends from government, industry, and civil society came together to not only celebrate excellence, but to reaffirm a collective mission: strengthening the resilience of the infrastructure Americans depend on every day.

Honoring leadership and impact

A highlight of the evening was recognizing ICIT's 2025 Award Recipients, leaders whose careers and service exemplify innovation, dedication, and impact:

Each honoree represents the best of the ICIT community — leaders driving meaningful change at the intersection of cybersecurity, national security, and critical infrastructure resilience.

Gratitude for our partners and sponsors

The success of the 2025 Gala would not have been possible without the generous support of ICIT's partners and sponsors. ICIT is deeply grateful to Google Public Sector, this year's Gala Co-Chair, for its leadership and continued commitment to securing the nation's critical infrastructure.

We also extend our sincere thanks to our other sponsors:

From the exclusive VIP Reception hosted by Rubrik to the Awards Ceremony and Step and Repeat, every detail reflected the strength of this community and the partnerships that sustain ICIT's mission.

Relive the evening

The memories — and the photos — are now live. We invite you to explore highlights from the night:

Photo Gallery:

Video Gallery | Awards Ceremony & Honoree Speeches

Looking ahead: ICIT's priorities for 2026

As the evening concluded, ICIT looked forward to the year ahead with clarity and purpose. In 2026, ICIT will continue to focus on the foundational systems that sustain modern life — energy and the grid, water and wastewater, and transportation and telecommunications — recognizing that people experience these systems together, even when they are governed separately.

These infrastructure pillars will be examined through five critical lenses:

The vision for 2026 is ambitious and necessary, rooted in partnership, shared responsibility, and the understanding that resilience cannot be achieved alone. As ICIT marks another successful year and looks toward the future, one message remains clear: only by working together, across industry, government, and civil society, can we meet the challenges ahead.

Thank you to everyone who made the 2025 ICIT Gala such a remarkable evening. We look forward to continuing this work with you in 2026.

Interested in attending the ICIT 2026 Gala? Contact: [email protected]

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact: [email protected]