As 2025 comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on a year defined by both uncertainty and resilience. In a landscape shaped by diminishing federal support, persistent and evolving threats, and growing domestic tensions, the mission of Athena Strategies remains steadfast: to help fill those gaps and provide officials and voters with the resources and tools they need.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all our partners and, most of all, to election workers across the nation. Your remarkable dedication sustains our democracy and we can’t thank you enough!
2025 was another busy year. Here is a quick recap of some of our highlights, advancing election security and fostering strategic partnerships:
Our Year in Review
- Expanding Technical Expertise: This year, Athena Strategies welcomed Mike Moser as Senior Election Security Advisor, bringing experience from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and as the former Director of Election Security & Technology at the Pennsylvania Department of State.
- National Recognition: In September, Kathy Boockvar was honored to receive the 2025 CAPE Award from the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections (CSSE) for her commitment to helping law enforcement, election officials, and other cross-sector partners protect election workers, voters, and election operations.
- Thought Leadership & Advocacy: We continued to speak out on critical issues throughout the year, including:
- NPR, StateScoop, VoteBeat, CNN, and others – warning about the consequences of federal cuts to election support and the appointment of election deniers in the administration
- “Let’s Talk Democracy” podcast, where we broke down the “people, science, and math” that make our elections secure and the critical need to participate: speak out and show up!
- USA Today and Philadelphia Inquirer – on President Trump’s Election Executive Order and his attempt to upend states’ rights and Congressional authority defined by the U.S. Constitution
- Participating in Bipartisan Amicus Briefs to oppose the President’s unconstitutional actions
- Bridging Divides: Recultivating Election Security and Trust, co-authored with Matt Crane, reflects on the evolution of election security defenses, the impact of their rollback in 2025 amid rising violence, and the urgent need to renew bipartisan investment, cross-sector collaboration, and sustained engagement through millions of everyday conversations.
- Training for the Future: Spearheaded by Mike Moser, we launched a specialized training series tailored for beginner-to-intermediate audiences, designed to provide actionable frameworks for the challenges ahead.
- Unity in Uncertainty: Kathy and Mike focused on leveraging partnerships to foster strategy and resilience.
- Rise of the Machine: In collaboration with Matt Crane, Mike lifted the curtain on AI’s impact on election infrastructure and risk mitigation.
- Checks, Balances, and Firewalls: Mike teamed up with Spencer Wood, a cybersecurity advisor with the Center for Tech and Civic Life, to explore the critical role of governance in securing elections, supply chains, and data security.
- Direct Election Security Support to Cross-Sector Officials: The Athena team was proud to continue their support for cross-sector officials, including tabletop exercises, training, and continued updates to CSSE state-by-state pocket reference guides to help law enforcement and election officials protect the safety of voters, election workers, and voting operations.
- Guidance and Communications: In addition to our trainings and advocacy, we dedicated time to breaking down complex security topics into actionable insights, focusing on resilience. Here are a few highlights from our 2025 series:
- Ballots and Backbone. Inspired by maritime navigation, this newsletter focused on the “horizon” of election preparedness and operations.
- The Three-Legged Stool of Resilience. To keep government operations upright during disruptions, we introduced the “three-legged stool” framework and the three essential plans every office needs: a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), Incident Response Plan (IRP), and Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP).
- The Sweet Taste of Security: A Layered Defense. Using the metaphor of a layer cake, we explained the concept of defense-in-depth, and how the most secure network relies on multiple layers, including physical and cyber controls.
- AI in Action: How Responsible County Innovation Can Empower. Highlighting a resource from the National Association of Counties (NACo), we illuminated how local governments can use AI to streamline operations and improve community engagement, so long as these innovations are paired with safeguards to maintain accuracy and security in vital services.
The Road to 2026
As we build the roadmap for next year in this increasingly complex environment, our focus remains simple: we remain dedicated to strengthening election security and protecting the vital operations of our democracy. To all public servants and other partners who work tirelessly under enormous stress – thank you again. And a joyful holiday season and a healthy new year to all!