Gerard appointed to ISMA board, recognized as NRECA cyber champion

The InfraGard Springfield Members Alliance (ISMA) board of directors unanimously approved AIEC Chief Technology Officer Dan Gerard for a 1-year appointment to the ISMA board.

In this role, Gerard will work alongside the leadership team that communicates and collaborates with law enforcement partners, including the FBI, DHS and state and local law enforcement agencies, to protect and preserve critical infrastructures on community and national levels.

InfraGard National Members Alliance (INMA) is an FBI-affiliated independent nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting U.S. critical infrastructure and the American people. Established in 2003, INMA is the private sector component of the FBI's InfraGard program, which is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and members of the private sector for the protection of U.S. critical infrastructure.

INMA is comprised of over 70 InfraGard Member Alliances like ISMA, nonprofit organizations which represent INMA at the local level across the country. Through these alliances, law enforcement and the American business community can collaborate on educational programs, training events and information-sharing initiatives that strengthen national security and the foundation of American life.

In addition, NRECA's Project Guardian recognized Gerard as a "cyber champion" during the 2025 Co-op Cyber Tech Conference in June. As a cyber champion, Gerard serves as a leader and advocate for cybersecurity within the electric cooperative network and helps strengthen cyber awareness, promote best practices and implement NRECA's Co-op Cyber Goals.

Essentially, cyber champions act as facilitators and educators, helping to creature a culture of cybersecurity, sharing knowledge and tools among fellow electric cooperatives, and advocating for resources and support to defend against cyberthreats.