CISOs Connect Honors Emerging Security Leaders at 2026 A100 Awards Ceremony in Nashville
CISOs Connect held its in-person 2026 A100 Awards ceremony on June 29, 2026, in Nashville, recognizing 100 chief information security officers who have demonstrated measurable leadership impact within their first five years in the role. David Cass, President of CISOs Connect, presided over the event, underscoring the organization's commitment to elevating the next generation of security leadership. (Source)
The A100 program distinguishes itself through a judging panel composed entirely of sitting CISOs, ensuring that honorees are evaluated free from commercial influence. The selection criteria focus on tangible leadership outcomes, with particular emphasis on forward-thinking approaches to security in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. (Source)
In the official press release, Cass praised the honorees' approach to AI-era security leadership. "This year's A100 honorees aren't just keeping pace with what AI is doing to their organizations. They're out ahead of it," Cass said. The Nashville ceremony marks a continued investment by CISOs Connect in peer-driven, practitioner-led recognition across the cybersecurity community. (Source)