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.
§ Advisory pillars
Every engagement sits within one of three pillars — frequently two at once.
01
Regulatory & Safety Strategy
Translating NRC, DOE, TSA, NIST, and IEC 62443 expectations into a defensible path — from framework selection through functional design criteria.
02
Operational & Technical Acceleration
Closing the distance between leadership intent and engineering execution when the technical picture is still forming.
03
Market & Commercialization Enablement
Translating technical capability into enterprise and pilot adoption. We align engineering milestones with customer readiness, regulatory approvals, and investor diligence.
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.
That means going beyond a security audit. CriticalPath helps leadership build a clear roadmap, define the “why” and the acceptance criteria behind each decision, and prevent costly engineering rabbit holes before they begin.
Career Journey
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
My career began at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where I supported cybersecurity and national critical infrastructure programs alongside federal agencies and the national lab ecosystem.
Federal Technology Strategy
At FWDthink, I partnered with DHS and TSA on enterprise modernization, cloud strategy, AI/ML adoption, and cybersecurity readiness across large federal technology environments.
Operational Technology & Critical Infrastructure
At Eversource Energy, I led OT cybersecurity for electric and natural gas operations, helping secure critical infrastructure and coordinate resilience planning across utilities 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
Grouped into the three pillars CriticalPath works within.
Regulatory & Safety Strategy
- Regulatory Strategy
- Cybersecurity Governance
- Risk Management
- Nuclear & Advanced Reactors
- Critical Infrastructure Security
Operational & Technical Acceleration
- Artificial Intelligence Strategy
- Operational Technology (OT)
- Technology Modernization
- Cloud & Enterprise Architecture
Market & Commercialization Enablement
- Defense Technology
- Executive Technology Strategy
- Venture & Technical Diligence
- Pilot Readiness
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 Implementation 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.
Three Pillars of Advisory Work
01
Regulatory & Safety Strategy
Translating NRC, DOE, TSA, NIST, and IEC 62443 expectations into a defensible path — from framework selection through functional design criteria.
Workstreams
- NRC & critical infrastructure frameworks
- Compliance roadmaps
- Functional design criteria
- Risk framework selection
- Security documentation
- Regulatory engagement
02
Operational & Technical Acceleration
Closing the distance between leadership intent and engineering execution when the technical picture is still forming.
Workstreams
- Leadership communication voids
- Commercial milestones into engineering sprints
- Execution bottleneck removal
- OT modernization sequencing
- AI & cyber program development
- Executive technical translation
03
Market & Commercialization Enablement
Translating technical capability into enterprise and pilot adoption. We align engineering milestones with customer readiness, regulatory approvals, and investor diligence.
Workstreams
- Pilot readiness
- Investor & technical diligence
- Enterprise sales positioning
- Utility engagement strategy
- Product positioning
- Commercial risk 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.