Global Finalists

Frank DePaola is Chief Information Security & Privacy Officer and leader of Global Infrastructure and IT Operations for Enpro. A technology executive with more than 25 years of experience, he specializes in cybersecurity, digital transformation, operational resilience, and technology strategy. Frank is passionate about developing future leaders and aligning technology with business outcomes. He is a U.S. Army veteran, industry speaker, mentor, and advisor dedicated to advancing the cybersecurity profession.

As Enpro's first Chief Information Security Officer, I built a cybersecurity program that transformed security from a technical function into a strategic business enabler. By focusing on operational excellence, talent development, and alignment with business objectives, the team has achieved ISO 27001 and CMMC certifications, strengthened resilience across a global manufacturing footprint, and supported significant business transformation through multiple acquisitions and divestitures. Most importantly, we developed future leaders, created a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, and demonstrated that cybersecurity can accelerate growth, build trust, and contribute directly to long-term business success.

Jerry Fowler is a cybersecurity and infrastructure executive who specializes in transforming complexity into resilience. He leads global security, technology, and risk programs with a focus on enabling growth, strengthening trust, and developing future leaders. Known for combining strategic vision with operational execution, Jerry has built a reputation for guiding organizations through change while fostering cultures of accountability, adaptability, and high performance. His leadership philosophy is simple: strong systems are built by strong people.

Under my leadership, our team successfully built the future while protecting the present. We executed a large-scale infrastructure transformation without disrupting ongoing operations, despite resource constraints, leadership changes, and increasing cyber risk. By fostering a culture of trust, accountability, and resilience, the team expanded beyond traditional roles, delivered critical modernization initiatives, strengthened security, and maintained operational stability. The greatest accomplishment was not the technology itself, it was proving that when people are empowered, supported, and united by a common mission, they can achieve extraordinary outcomes under extraordinary circumstances.

Rick Scot is a senior cybersecurity and technology executive with more than 30 years of global leadership experience. He currently serves as Global CIO/CISO for Elevate Textiles, driving modernization and enterprise security. Rick previously held senior roles at Bank of New York and spent over two decades at Bank of America in cybercrime, policy, and security leadership. He contributed to international cyber‑disruption efforts, advised industry and academic boards, and holds 33 patents in advanced technologies.

Over the past year, the organization made major strides in strengthening its security and governance posture. By enhancing endpoint controls, modernizing identity management, and deploying risk‑based access policies, the team significantly reduced exposure to cyber threats. A new AI governance framework and dedicated privacy function further elevated oversight and compliance. Operational resilience also improved through a comprehensive incident response plan and expanded 24/7 monitoring. Together, these advancements showcase the organization’s commitment to proactive risk reduction and a more secure, resilient enterprise.

Phil Swain is the Chief Information Security Officer at Extreme Networks, where he has built and led the cybersecurity program since 2016. Starting as the company's first dedicated security leader, he established teams across Security Operations, Incident Response, Product Security, and Identity/Data Management. Phil has driven industry-leading cloud security certifications, championed a culture of shared security responsibility, and developed talent that has gone on to CISO roles across the industry.

When Phil Swain joined Extreme Networks, he made it his mission to evolve the security program to fit the needs of this quickly growing company. He established Security Operations, Incident Response, Product Security, and Identity/Data Management teams and introduced a Product Security Incident Response process based on an industry-standard incident response framework. Under his leadership, ExtremeCloud IQ became the first cloud network management platform to simultaneously hold ISO/IEC 27017, 27001, and 27701 certifications alongside SOC2 compliance. Under Phil’s leadership, Extreme has established a cohesive, multifaceted security strategy and earned its reputation as a leading provider of secure networking solutions.

As the Chief Information Security Officer, Brian oversees Global Information Security and Identity and Access Management for both the enterprise and SAS Managed Cloud Services environments. For over 21 years, Brian has been instrumental in leading and supporting the company’s information security program, ensuring its growth and maturity in response to evolving industry and customer compliance requirements.

One success story is related to our creation of engaging security awareness videos which required me to get out of my element and be more open and available to staff. The last thing I wanted to do was to be on camera, but when you have a good writer and producer, even those that don't want to be in the spotlight can be funny and engaging. The series has generated lunch room & pre-meeting conversations. This is the kind of publicity that helps rally employees around an often confusing topic and enables them to understand the implications of their actions.