Alexandra Seymour to receive Excellence in Action award for advancing national cybersecurity policy at ICIT 2025 Gala

The Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT) will present the Excellence in Action Award to Alexandra Seymour, Principal Deputy Assistant National Cyber Director for Policy at the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD), during the ICIT 2025 Gala & Benefit.

The award recognizes an individual whose work has contributed to consequential national security programs and whose leadership qualities position them for future high-impact roles.

About the ICIT 2025 Gala

Seymour’s career spans senior leadership roles across the executive branch, Congress, and the national security community, with a focus on cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, and emerging technology policy. In honoring Seymour, ICIT is recognizing leadership that has shaped national cyber priorities at the highest levels of government. 

Driving national cybersecurity policy at the highest level

At ONCD, Seymour serves as the principal staff member responsible for the formulation, coordination, and implementation of national cybersecurity policy. In this role, she helps translate national priorities into actionable policy direction, aligning stakeholders across federal agencies and critical infrastructure sectors to strengthen cyber resilience and protect systems essential to national security.

Her position requires balancing strategic policy objectives with operational realities, ensuring that cybersecurity initiatives are both actionable and aligned with the needs of government and infrastructure owner-operators. Through this work, Seymour has played a key role in shaping how national cybersecurity policy is coordinated and executed across a complex interagency environment. 

Legislative leadership on cybersecurity and emerging technologies

Prior to joining ONCD, Seymour served as Staff Director for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee. In that role, she led legislative and oversight priorities related to cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, including spearheading key cyber legislation.

Her congressional experience also includes leading policy efforts on artificial intelligence, implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act, and quantum technology issues for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. In parallel, Seymour served as President and Co-Founder of the Congressional Staff Association on Artificial Intelligence (CSA.ai), helping establish a durable community of practice around AI policy and national security within Congress. 

Executive branch, Pentagon, and private-sector experience

This marks Seymour’s second period of service in the Trump Administration. She previously served on the National Security Council staff and at the Pentagon, where her responsibilities included counter–transnational organized crime policy and serving as the Deputy Secretary of Defense’s speechwriter.

During her tenure at the Department of Defense, Seymour received both the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Outstanding Achievement—recognition of her contributions to national security initiatives. 

In addition to her government service, Seymour has conducted research with the Technology and National Security program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and served as Chief of Staff to the CEO of an AI security startup. This experience has informed her ability to bridge policy, technology, and operational considerations across sectors. 

ICIT Gala & Benefit: Supporting non-partisan education and research

Seymour will be honored at the ICIT 2025 Gala & Benefit, the Institute’s annual fundraising event and a primary source of financial support for its work. One hundred percent of funds raised through the Gala are applied directly to ICIT’s educational programs, including its Digital Library, briefings, and other public-facing initiatives.

ICIT is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) think tank focused on modernizing, securing, and strengthening the resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure sectors. The organization does not advocate for specific policy positions, instead serving as a resource for governments, owner-operators, and communities working to protect foundational systems.