Michael Dent, Chief Information Security and Privacy Officer for Fairfax County, Virginia, has been named the recipient of the Government Business Executive Forum’s (GBEF) Technology Leadership Award for 2026. The honor was presented at EDGE26 in Las Vegas and recognizes sustained leadership and impact in public-sector technology and cybersecurity.
Dent has spent more than three decades working in information technology and cybersecurity, including more than 20 years with Fairfax County, Virginia. In his current role, he oversees cybersecurity and privacy programs that support critical county operations and services for more than 1.3 million residents. His work has focused on protecting government systems while modernizing legacy infrastructure to address emerging risks.
Over the course of his tenure, Dent helped establish Fairfax County’s enterprise-wide information security and privacy program, developed countywide security policies, and led efforts to improve incident response, threat monitoring, and compliance. He also advises senior leadership on cybersecurity risk and has played a role in integrating newer technologies, including secure cloud services and advanced networking capabilities, into county operations.
Beyond Fairfax County, Dent is a long-serving leader in regional cybersecurity coordination. He is currently serving his seventh term as chairman of the Council of Governments (COG) Chief Information Security Officers group within the National Capitol Region.
Dent’s career includes earlier service with the Virginia Department of Corrections, where he managed IT security programs, and eight years in the U.S. Army with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, where his responsibilities included managing classified and unclassified communications systems.
In a post acknowledging the award, Dent emphasized the importance of peer recognition in public service. “This award is, without question, one of the proudest moments of my career,” he wrote, noting that the recognition came from colleagues who understand the demands of public-sector technology leadership.
The GBEF Technology Leadership Award highlights leaders who have demonstrated long-term commitment to strengthening government technology programs.
(AI was used in part to facilitate this article.)
