Victor Atkins, a former senior U.S. intelligence and energy official, has joined 1898 & Co., a part of Burns & McDonnell, to lead executive advisory services for industrial cybersecurity. He will engage with executive-level clients while spearheading efforts to deliver cybersecurity solutions and services tailored for critical infrastructure.

Prior to joining 1898 & Co., Atkins managed the cyber intelligence mission for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence. He also led programs at the U.S. National Laboratories to discover and characterize sophisticated foreign cyberthreats that would disrupt energy sector operations.

“Victor has a wealth of knowledge regarding the risks that advanced cyberthreats pose to critical infrastructure,” says Matt Morris, managing director of security and risk consulting at 1898 & Co. “He has a fantastic record of connecting diverse teams that can identify and characterize cyberthreats. Also, his federal experience will be invaluable to our clients who are navigating national cyber policies and regulations.”

In addition to working for the U.S. Department of Energy, Atkins worked for the CIA and National Security Council focusing on nuclear counterterrorism and counterproliferation. Atkins recently earned a spot among nine fellows supporting the Atlantic Council’s Indo-Pacific Security Initiative, which works with U.S. allies and partner governments to develop programs and policies addressing security challenges in the region while finding opportunities for collaboration.

“With the convergence of information technology and operational technology, we are seeing increased incidence of cyberattacks and cyberthreats targeting critical infrastructure,” says Chris Underwood, vice president and general manager of 1898 & Co. “Victor is uniquely qualified to support our clients. He can provide solutions for implementing cyber-informed engineering principles that reduce risks while aligning with federal standards and regulations.”