Congratulations to the 2015 Rising Stars
![](https://cdn.nextgov.com/media/img/cd/2021/12/12/RisingStar_logo_2013-15/860x394.jpg?1639296627)
FCW recognizes 14 individuals having an outsized impact early in their careers.
![Rising Star 2013](/media/ps360/GIG/FCWNow/Logos/RisingStar_logo_2013.jpg)
Each year, FCW recognizes individuals who are in the first 10 years of their federal IT careers, yet already are having an outsized impact in the community. These women and men are not only making a difference today -- they are put forth by their peers and managers as the likely leaders of tomorrow.
Perhaps unsurprisingly in a year so dominated by data breaches, this year's class of Rising Stars is weighted heavily toward cybersecurity -- but there are also innovators working on everything from acquisition to website development.
Full profiles will run later this year in FCW, and the winners will be honored in person at the Oct. 14 GCN Awards gala. Until then, here's a quick preview of the 2015 Rising Stars -- 14 individuals you'll be hearing about for years to come:
Akosua Ali
Department of Homeland Security
Michael H. Brody
Department of Homeland Security
Lindsay Burack
Sapient Government Services
Evan Chan
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA
Regina Kassar
Red Team Consulting*
Nicholas Keshavarz-Nia
Noblis
Alexander Lin
TCG
Erica McCann
Information Technology Alliance for the Public Sector
Katherine Mullins
Department of Homeland Security
Mark Naggar
Department of Health and Human Services
Christina Prat
Customs and Border Protection
Teresa Rodriguez
U.S. Forest Service
Michael Wheeless
Oceus Networks
Andrew Yuen
Environmental Protection Agency
* Regina Kassar recently left Red Team Consulting for a position with IBM, but her Rising Star award reflects accomplishments in her previous role.
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