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Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Homeland’s 50 Trailblazers Announced

Washington, D.C. September 12 – Today, the day after the nation’s remembrance of the events of 9/11, Homeland Security Today is proud to announce its 2025 “Homeland’s 50 Trailblazers” to highlight hope, and bring attention to the people trailblazing innovations to the nation’s most pressing threats and vulnerabilities.

The Trailblazers list focuses on individuals who are finding and implementing the most cutting-edge homeland security solutions in service to our citizens and nation. Their innovations are leveraging advancements to make the country safer and make #neveragain a reality.

“We are always inspired and heartened by the leadership, innovation and commitment of the heroes selected as Trailblazers,” said Executive Editor of Homeland Security Today Kristina Tanasichuk. “These leaders realize that the future is now and that embracing change and harnessing the power of rapid advancement for their mission protects us all. They truly are blazing new trails – especially in the new world of AI.”

Editors and Advisors to Homeland Security Today select top leaders advancing critical existing and emerging missions across the broad field of “homeland security” and building the critical partnerships between our government, the private sector and our citizens for a prepared and resilient nation.  This year’s cadre represent the public and private sector, and innovators in disciplines across homeland.

See the full list of Trailblazers and write ups here. 

Trailblazers will be honored at a reception September 30th in Tysons Corner, Virginia. For more information click here.

The 2025 Homeland Security Trailblazers Include:
Ajit Maan, PhD, Founder and CEO, Narrative Strategies, Editor at Large, Counter-Narrative, Homeland Security Today

Aubrey Gianfort, Contracting Professional, Transportation Security Administration; Founder, “Breaking the Standard” Podcast

Brenna Murphy, former Director, Vetting Programs Division (VPD), Transportation Security Administration; Founder, Secure Horizons International LLC

Carrie Mitchell, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Enrollment Services and Vetting Programs (ESVP), Transportation Security Administration

Chris Meyers, Supervisory Program Manager, Integrated Sensor Towers (IST) Portfolio, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Darvan Cosby, Emergency Management Coordinator, Pierce County

Dave Fluty, Assistant Commissioner for Operations Support, Laboratories and Scientific Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

David Jennings, Associate Chief, U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services

David Venturella, Senior Executive, Immigration & Customs Enforcement

Denise Anderson, Chair, National Council of ISACs

Don Yeske, Former Director, National Security Cyber Division, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Senior Solutions Architect, Virtu

Eric Smith, Homeland Security Program Analyst, Snohomish County, WA

Ha Nguyen McNeill, Acting Administrator, Transportation Security Administration

James (JC) Collins, Assistant Commissioner, Office of International Affairs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Jamie Holcombe, Former Chief Information Officer, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; Vice President, US AI

Jamie Mortvedt, Unit Chief, Office of Professional Responsibility, Immigration & Customs Enforcement

Jason Lim, Digital Transformation Counselor to the Administrator, Transportation Security Administration

Joe Cyrulik, Senior Strategic and Transnational Issues Analyst, U.S. Intelligence Community

Jonathan White, Branch Chief, Cloud, Data, & AI, U.S. Coast Guard

Jonathan Braley, Director, Food and Agriculture Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Food and Ag-ISAC)

Josh Powell, Chief Innovation Officer and Chief AI Officer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Katherine Crompton, Chief of Contracting Office (COCO), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Kaz Daughtry, Deputy Mayor, Public Safety, New York City

Kristyn Kelly Shapiro, Director, Guidehouse; Former Senior Executive Service, FBI

Mark Ignash, Director, Strategic Initiatives & Ecosystem Development, Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation, MI

Matt Pierce, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, U.S. State Department

Meg McPherson, Founder & Co-Chair, Pracademic Affairs; System Director of Emergency Management Education, Training, and Exercises, Mount Sinai Health System, New York City

Megan Descalzi, Program Lead, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Forensics Unit, Balitmore Police Department’s

Meikle Paschal Jr., Senior Solutions Director & Aiuto™ Practice Lead, Amivero

Melissa Conley, Executive Director, Capability Management and Innovation, Transportation Security Administration

Michael Lighthiser, Commander, Special Operations, Research and Training Division, George Mason University Police Department

Michael Wallace, EdD, Founder & Co-Chair of Pracademic Affairs, Director, Emergency and Security Studies Program & Senior Professor of Practice, Tulane University

Michelle Gillies, Mission Forward Program Manager, Planning Chief, and Enterprise Project Manager, UW Medicine

Michelle Żebrowski, Chief Data Officer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Mike Prado, Director, Cyber Crime Center, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

Monica Sanders, Founder, The Undivide Project; Adjunct Law Professor, Georgetown University

Nick Martinelli, Director, Information Technology Contracting Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Peter Giambone, Senior Contracting Officer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Robert Griffin, PhD, Founding Dean, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cyber Security (CEHC), University of Albany

Robert S. Tucker, Commissioner, New York Fire Department

Rodrigo Nieto Gómez, PhD

Ron Vitiello, Senior Advisor, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Ryan Honary, Founder, SensoRy AI

Sandy Radesky, Associate Director of Vulnerability Management, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Suha Hassen, PhD, Terrorism Scholar & Field Researcher

Sunny Wescott, Chief Meteorologist, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Tony Pierri, Acting Assistant Director of Security, Office of Professional Responsibility, Immigration & Customs Enforcement

Tracy Minter, Former Lead AI Program Manager, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Vishnu Reddy, Planetary Scientist, Director, S4 Space Center, the University of Arizona

William Braniff, Director, Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL), American University

The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.

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