ICIT 2025 Gala: CISA director-nominee Sean Plankey receives Pinnacle Award for legacy of national leadership

The Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT) will present the Pinnacle Award to Sean Plankey during the 2025 ICIT Gala & Benefit. The award recognizes a senior leader whose career has reached the highest levels of the cybersecurity and national security community, and whose contributions have produced enduring frameworks, guidance, and capabilities that strengthen both public- and private-sector critical infrastructure.

Strategic leadership forged in operational environments

Plankey’s cybersecurity leadership was shaped by operational experience in some of the most demanding national security environments. His career began in the U.S. Coast Guard, where his technical expertise and operational acumen led to assignments supporting U.S. Cyber Command and a deployment to Afghanistan. During that deployment, he became the first Coast Guard officer to conduct offensive cyber operations, working alongside the special operations community across 16 bases. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star, underscoring the real-world impact of his work at the intersection of cyber operations and national defense.

Senior roles across maritime and energy security

Following his operational service, he continued to expand his influence across critical infrastructure sectors. He joined the U.S. Navy as Deputy Chief Information Officer, where he oversaw the Maritime Domain Awareness portfolio, advancing cybersecurity capabilities essential to protecting global maritime commerce. He later served on the National Security Council as Director of Cybersecurity, contributing to national-level strategy and coordination.

Plankey subsequently joined the U.S. Department of Energy as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response during the first Trump Administration. In that role, he played a central part in modernizing and securing the nation’s energy infrastructure, helping to improve resilience against both cyber and physical threats. He also co-authored the National Maritime Cybersecurity Plan, a landmark framework that continues to guide public-private collaboration in securing maritime infrastructure.

Continuing service and national-level trust

Now serving in the second Trump Administration, he continues his public service as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security for the Coast Guard. In this role, he is driving modernization initiatives across the Service, reinforcing cybersecurity and resilience as foundational elements of operational readiness.

He has also been nominated by President Trump to serve as Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), reflecting sustained national trust in his leadership and expertise.

Why ICIT is honoring Sean Plankey

From frontline cyber operations to senior policy and infrastructure leadership, Plankey’s career reflects a long-term commitment to protecting the systems that underpin national security, economic stability, and public safety. His work has helped translate operational insight into durable policy, strategy, and frameworks that will continue to shape cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection for years to come. For these contributions, ICIT is proud to honor him with the 2025 Pinnacle Award.

ICIT Gala and Benefit

The 2025 ICIT Gala & Benefit is an invitation-only, black-tie event convening senior legislative leaders, federal officials, and private-sector executives committed to national security, digital transformation, and critical infrastructure resilience. Held in January 2026 in Washington, D.C., the gala celebrates influential leaders across cybersecurity and national defense while serving as a benefit to support ICIT’s non-partisan research and educational mission. Proceeds from sponsorships, donations, and fundraising efforts directly sustain ICIT programs, including its Digital Library, public briefings, and educational initiatives, all of which are freely available to policymakers, practitioners, and the broader community. 

About ICIT

The Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) think tank dedicated to modernizing, securing, and strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure that supports society’s foundational needs. ICIT does not take institutional positions on policy matters. Instead, it serves as an objective resource for organizations and communities working to advance national resilience.