Official Announcement: ICIT Board of Directors

Washington, D.C., November 2025 — The Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT), the nation’s first cybersecurity and critical infrastructure think tank, is proud to announce the members of its distinguished Board of Directors. These accomplished leaders bring together deep expertise across cybersecurity, policy, risk management, and technology innovation, advancing ICIT’s mission of modernizing, securing, and making resilient critical infrastructure that provides for people’s foundational needs.

Board Leadership

Parham Eftekhari — Founder & Chairman

Parham Eftekhari is a leading expert in cybersecurity, national security, and critical infrastructure, with two decades of experience at the intersection of technology and policy. He serves as Executive Vice President at CyberRisk Alliance, where he oversees a community of more than 40,000 professionals and leads 150+ in-person events each year. Parham is also Chairman of the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT). A builder of communities and organizations, he advises investors and companies including Gray Space Strategies and Mazebolt Technologies, mentors at Harvard Business School, and is a frequent contributor to public dialogue through platforms such as TED, RSA, and The Wall Street Journal. His recognitions include the (ISC)² Government Information Security Leadership Award and a 2024 commendation from the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity.

Cory Simpson — Chief Executive Officer & Board Member

Cory Simpson is one of the nation’s leading experts on cybersecurity, national security, public policy, and emerging technology, with more than twenty years of experience across government, the military, and the private sector. He served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 2004 to 2016—now continuing as a legal advisor to U.S. Army Cyber Command—with roles ranging from general counsel and prosecutor to national security law advisor across multiple combat tours. Cory is the CEO of Gray Space Strategies and the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT), and also serves as a senior advisor to CSC 2.0 and on the Board of Directors for the Cyber Guild. He holds a Master of Laws in Military Law, a Juris Doctorate, and a BA in accounting with a philosophy minor, and is globally recognized for creating practical solutions to complex national security, critical infrastructure, and cyber challenges.

Board Members

Steve Ingram — Board Member

Steve Ingram advises boards, founders, CEOs, and investors on strategy, governance, and risk. He previously led Ernst & Young’s Americas Financial Services Cyber & Privacy practice, driving major growth and chairing its Americas Cyber Advisory Board. Before that, he served as PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Asia-Pacific Cyber Leader and Australia’s Risk Practice Leader, and was a founding member of the Australian Cyber Advisory Board. Earlier, his service with the Federal Police shaped his belief that even technical problems are solved through people and collaboration, corroborating ICIT’s mission. As a Board Member of ICIT, he advances modernization and resilience in critical national infrastructure, and he is completing a Master of Legal Studies in Business Law at Texas A&M University, complementing his background in finance, investment, and psychology.

Debbie Sallis — Board Member

Debbie Sallis is the Founding Executive Director of The Cyber Guild Foundation, created in 2020 to build a more inclusive and connected cybersecurity workforce and home to the Greater Washington Area’s premier diversity-in-cyber conference, Uniting Women in Cyber. With more than 15 years in global leadership—including becoming the youngest female executive at a major defense organization—she now focuses on empowering leaders and strengthening community. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Technology Advancement Center, advises Evans & Chambers, and sits on the board of The Washington Center. Recognized by Who’s Who and CIO Business for her work advancing inclusive cybersecurity communities, she brings a values-driven approach to connecting people and expanding the cyber talent pipeline. She holds U.S., British, and Irish citizenships.

James Stanzler — Board Member

James Stanzler joined Atreides Management, LP as Managing Director in April 2019. He was named a Partner of Atreides Ventures in September 2023. Prior to Atreides, James spent 9 years at Highfields Capital. He managed portfolio investments in the media, telecommunication, and technology sectors globally. Prior to joining Highfields, James was a senior research analyst at Loch Capital Management, and before that he was a Director of Planning & Analysis at the largest cable company in the UK. James began his career in equity research. He is currently President of the Foundation Board of Phoenix Charter Academy and graduated with a BA in English and American Literature from Brown University.

Collective Mission and Leadership Values

ICIT’s Board embodies the institute’s core values of Humility, Empathy, and Resilience—principles that guide its efforts to secure the systems underpinning American society. Together, this leadership team brings unmatched expertise and shared commitment to strengthening national resilience through collaboration, education, and innovation.

“ICIT’s strength lies in people who believe in our people centric mission.”

About ICIT

The Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)3 think tank with the mission of modernizing, securing, and making resilient critical infrastructure that provides for people’s foundational needs. ICIT is dedicated to being a resource for the organizations and communities that share our mission.