GovRAMP Concludes First Inaugural Cyber Summit by Recognizing 2024 Founders Award Winners

Indianapolis, IN – (GovRAMP) – GovRAMP proudly concluded its inaugural Cyber Summit by announcing the recipients of the 2024 GovRAMP Founders Award. This award, established to honor visionary leaders who have significantly advanced cybersecurity standards and cloud security in state and local governments, was presented to GovRAMP Co-founders, Joe Bielawski, CEO of Knowledge Services, and J.R. Sloan, Chief Information Officer for the State of Arizona. 

Joe Bielawski was recognized for his pioneering work in modernizing state-level risk management. Through his leadership at Knowledge Services, Bielawski has played a key role in fostering collaboration between state agencies and private sector partners, elevating cybersecurity standards to safeguard public sector data and critical infrastructure. 

J.R. Sloan, serving as Arizona’s Chief Information Officer, was honored for his leadership in adopting cloud technologies in government while ensuring robust cybersecurity measures. Sloan's work has been instrumental in driving innovative, secure solutions for the public sector, perfectly aligning with the mission of GovRAMP. 

"This award reflects the spirit and vision of those who made GovRAMP possible,” said Leah McGrath, Executive Director of GovRAMP. “Joe and J.R. exemplify the dedication, innovation, and collaboration that will continue to guide our work and support the public sector in managing cybersecurity risks effectively." 

The Founders Award was curated by the GovRAMP Board of Directors to recognize individuals whose contributions have been foundational to the success and development of GovRAMP's mission to protect government data through cybersecurity best practices. The award celebrates those whose leadership, collaboration, and dedication have helped to shape the organization's vision and success. 

The award is designed to recognize significant contributions to advancing cloud security standards for state and local governments. 

For more information on the GovRAMP Founders Award and its 2024 recipients, visit the official Founders Award page. 

About GovRAMP

Founded at the beginning of 2020, GovRAMP was born from the clear need for a standardized approach to the cybersecurity standards required from service providers offering solutions to state and local governments. GovRAMP is a registered 501(c)(6) nonprofit membership organization comprised of service providers offering IaaS, PaaS, and/or SaaS solutions, third party assessment organizations, and government officials. Our members lead, manage, and work in various disciplines across the United States and are all committed to making the digital landscape a safer, more secure place.