Ron Ross ’73 is a finalist for a public service award known as a Sammie and an inaugural People’s Choice Award. Awarded by the Partnership for Public Service, Sammies are known as the “Oscars” of government service—a highly respected honor with a vigorous selection process. Ross is recognized for instituting a state-of-the-art risk assessment system that has protected federal computer networks from cyberattacks and helped secure information critical to our national and economic security.
Ross, a fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is a preeminent leader in helping the government better secure its information systems. He developed the first set of unified information security standards and guidelines for all federal agencies, and most recently helped establish the government-wide program for cloud security assessment and authorization. As a result of his widely respected work, Ross has become an international cybersecurity ambassador, called on by U.S. industry, academia and governments around the world to help protect information. He has led U.S. cybersecurity teams to Australia, India, Japan, Canada, and the European Union, promoting U.S. information security concepts and best practices.
This year’s honoree will be announced at the 2015 Sammies gala on October 7 in Washington, DC.