AI + Infrastructure
Preparing AI for Critical Infrastructure
Coming soon
CriticalPath
Strategic Technology Advisory
Where emerging technology meets real-world execution.
CriticalPath helps founders, investors, and technology organizations navigate the strategic, operational, and regulatory challenges at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, operational technology, and critical infrastructure.
Experience across
National Laboratories
Federal Government
Critical Infrastructure
Utilities
Defense Technology
Emerging Technology
Venture-backed Companies
Why CriticalPath exists
"Organizations are being forced to modernize faster than ever before. Artificial intelligence, cloud transformation, operational technology, and critical infrastructure are converging, creating opportunities alongside unprecedented complexity."
CriticalPath helps leaders navigate that transformation with confidence.
The Signature Framework
The CriticalPath Ecosystem
Navigating the intersection of technology, infrastructure, regulation, and strategy — to help organizations build, secure, and scale what's next.
Helping organizations navigate the future of critical technologies.
§ Meet Julia
Hi — I'm Julia. Welcome to CriticalPath.
Over the past several years, I've had the opportunity to work at the intersection of cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, emerging technologies, and national security — supporting organizations responsible for some of the country's most complex operational environments.
From national laboratories and federal agencies to one of the nation's largest electric utilities and emerging technology startups, my career has centered on helping leaders make informed decisions as technology evolves faster than organizations can adapt.
I founded CriticalPath to bring together that experience and help organizations confidently navigate the strategic, operational, and technical decisions shaping the next generation of critical technologies.
My Perspective
Technology decisions no longer exist in isolation. Artificial intelligence, operational technology, advanced energy systems, defense innovation, cybersecurity, and regulatory policy are becoming increasingly interconnected.
Organizations don't simply need technical expertise. They need someone who can connect technology, operations, governance, business strategy, and long-term execution. That systems perspective is the foundation of CriticalPath.
Career Journey
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
My career began at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where I supported cybersecurity and national critical infrastructure initiatives alongside federal agencies and multiple national laboratories. My work included contributing to the White House Executive Order 14028 and the development of the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program; managing a $3M DHS CISA initiative focused on creating a national critical infrastructure data taxonomy to improve interoperability across government and industry; supporting cyber-physical risk analysis and critical infrastructure resilience initiatives; leading cross-laboratory collaboration between Lawrence Livermore and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; and organizing a multi-day ontology workshop bringing together more than 50 public and private sector stakeholders.
Federal Technology Strategy
As Technical Lead and Senior Systems Analyst at FWDthink, I worked directly with the Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration on enterprise modernization and emerging technology initiatives. Highlights included leading strategic automation architecture recommendations under a $5M DHS TSA CIO contract; helping shape enterprise cloud strategy supporting more than 30,000 users across six cloud providers; advising leadership on AI/ML, large language model (LLM), robotic process automation, governance, and long-term modernization planning; developing the company's first corporate cybersecurity strategic plan; leading CMMC, NIST 800-171, and ISO 27001 readiness initiatives; and building and mentoring a 20-person internship program spanning cybersecurity, engineering, business, and marketing.
Operational Technology & Critical Infrastructure
At Eversource Energy, I led Operational Technology cybersecurity efforts supporting critical electric and natural gas infrastructure. Responsibilities included leading and mentoring a team of OT Security Engineers responsible for 24/7 cybersecurity operations; overseeing cybersecurity tooling, incident response coordination, and NERC CIP initiatives; leading wireless threat detection deployments across LNG facilities, solar farms, substations, control rooms, and data centers; driving research and security architecture supporting IEEE 2030.5 and distributed energy resource communications; and serving as Lead Planner for the Department of Energy Liberty Eclipse cyber exercise, coordinating resilience planning across nine utility companies and federal partners.
Today
Today, I advise organizations working across artificial intelligence, operational technology, critical infrastructure, defense technology, advanced energy, nuclear innovation, cybersecurity strategy, technology governance, and venture & technical due diligence.
Areas of Expertise
- Artificial Intelligence Strategy
- Critical Infrastructure Security
- Operational Technology (OT)
- Cybersecurity Governance
- Technology Modernization
- Defense Technology
- Nuclear & Advanced Reactors
- Cloud & Enterprise Architecture
- Regulatory Strategy
- Risk Management
- Executive Technology Strategy
Education
Boston College
Master of Science
Cybersecurity Policy & Governance
Simmons University
Bachelor of Arts
Psychology
Selected Highlights
01
National Laboratory Experience
02
Department of Homeland Security Programs
03
Engineering Mentorship
04
Executive Order Implimentation Pilots
05
30,000+ User Federal Modernization Program
06
$5M DHS TSA Modernization Initiative
07
$3M National Critical Infrastructure Program
08
DOE Liberty Eclipse Lead Planner
09
Strategic Leadership
10
Utility OT Cybersecurity Operations
11
AI, LLM & Automation Governance
12
Founder, CriticalPath
Moments
Looking Ahead
CriticalPath was founded on the belief that the next decade will be defined by organizations that can successfully navigate technological change.
Whether advising founders, utilities, investors, government organizations, or emerging technology companies, my goal is the same: help leaders make better decisions about the technologies shaping tomorrow.
§ Insights
Positions, not posts.
A limited series of essays and field notes on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, defense, and the technology that runs beneath modern life.
Cybersecurity
Why Cybersecurity Alone Doesn't Build Enterprise Trust
Coming soon
Nuclear Security
Navigating Nuclear Cybersecurity Readiness
Coming soon
§ Research Library
Coming soonA working shelf.
A curated collection of the frameworks, regulations, and primary sources that shape our thinking — updated as the field moves.
AI Governance
NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0)
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI
The White House
EU AI Act — Final Text
European Parliament
Critical Infrastructure & OT
National Security Memorandum on Critical Infrastructure (NSM-22)
The White House
CISA Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals
CISA
NIST SP 800-82r3 — Guide to OT Security
NIST
Energy & Nuclear
NRC 10 CFR 73.54 — Cyber Security at Nuclear Facilities
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
NERC CIP Standards (v6 → v7 Transition)
North American Electric Reliability Corp.
DOE Cybersecurity Strategy for the Energy Sector
U.S. Department of Energy
Defense & Emerging Tech
DoD Responsible AI Strategy & Implementation Pathway
U.S. Department of Defense
CMMC 2.0 Program Overview
DoD CIO
National Defense Industrial Strategy
OUSD (A&S)
§ Signals
What we're tracking.
The questions on our desk right now — the intersections where strategy, regulation, and engineering are colliding.
- 01Frontier model deployment in regulated environments
- 02Convergence of IT, OT, and cloud in utilities
- 03Cyber-informed engineering for critical assets
- 04AI assurance and model risk management
- 05Post-quantum cryptography readiness
- 06Sovereign compute and export controls
- 07Grid modernization and DER cybersecurity
- 08Autonomy and dual-use defense technology
§ Expertise
Technology is changing faster than organizations can adapt.
CriticalPath helps founders, investors, utilities, and government organizations navigate the strategic, operational, cybersecurity, and regulatory decisions that determine whether innovation succeeds.
Strategic Advisory Areas
AI Strategy & Governance
How organizations responsibly integrate AI into critical environments.
Topics
- AI governance
- AI risk
- Model security
- AI policy
- AI adoption roadmap
- Executive AI strategy
- Human oversight
- AI for critical infrastructure
Cybersecurity Strategy
Strategic cybersecurity.
Topics
- Cyber program development
- Executive cyber strategy
- Security by design
- OT cybersecurity
- Product security
- Enterprise cyber maturity
- Board communication
- Cyber governance
Critical Infrastructure
Energy, utilities, nuclear, transportation, water, communications, and industrial control systems.
Topics
- Energy
- Utilities
- Nuclear
- Transportation
- Water
- Communications
- Industrial control systems
- Operational resilience
Operational Technology (OT)
Topics
- ICS
- SCADA
- Distributed Energy Resources
- OT modernization
- Industrial security
- Zero Trust for OT
- Remote operations
- Digital transformation
Emerging Technology Commercialization
How do we actually get customers?
Topics
- Product positioning
- Customer readiness
- Utility engagement
- Government partnerships
- Pilot strategy
- Strategic growth
- Commercial adoption
- Enterprise sales enablement
Regulatory Strategy
A huge differentiator.
Topics
- NRC
- DOE
- TSA
- NIST
- IEC 62443
- Risk frameworks
- Compliance roadmaps
- Security documentation
Venture & Investment Strategy
Helping investors and founders separate signal from noise.
Topics
- Technical diligence
- Market landscape research
- Founder advisory
- Investment thesis development
- Emerging technology trends
- Commercial risk
- Technology assessment
How I Work
Fractional Strategic Advisor
Helping executive teams make difficult technology decisions, and navigate technology modernization challenges.
Founder Partner
Supporting emerging companies through commercialization and strategic growth.
Executive Advisor
Providing an independent perspective across cybersecurity, regulation, and emerging technologies.
Investor Advisor
Supporting diligence and portfolio strategy.
Current Focus Areas
What is on the desk right now.
The questions and opportunities driving current research and advisory work.
- 01AI Governance for Critical Infrastructure
- 02Nuclear Cybersecurity
- 03Operational Technology Security
- 04Emerging Energy Technologies
- 05Venture Capital & Emerging Technology
- 06Critical Infrastructure Modernization
§ Get in touch
Every mission deserves its CriticalPath
- Location
- Boston, MA
- The best engagements begin before there's a clear playbook.
- If you're facing a strategic challenge that sits at the intersection of technology, cybersecurity, regulation, or critical infrastructure, let's have a conversation.