CCI Taps Fairfax County Innovation Leader To Lead Outreach, Workforce, and Innovation Efforts
Eta Nahapetian has joined the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative as director of outreach after more than two decades with Fairfax County government, where she built partnerships among industry, government, and academia and secured funding for innovation programs.
She will lead the statewide cybersecurity initiative's innovation and workforce development mission lines and efforts to bring in new funding.
"From its inception, CCI has worked to grow and retain cybersecurity talent in Virginia and to move new ideas from the lab to the marketplace," said Luiz DaSilva, CCI executive director. "Eta has spent years working on those same issues, and she excels at bringing together industry, government, and academia to make a real impact."
Nahapetian is getting to know CCI's regional nodes and partner institutions.
“In my first weeks, I've met researchers, innovators, and students across Virginia who are doing remarkable work in cybersecurity,” Nahapetian said. “My job is to connect that talent with the employers, investors, and communities who need it. I've seen what happens when research partners and industry work toward a shared goal, and I'm eager to build those connections for CCI.”
More about Nahapetian
Most recently, Nahapetian was manager of innovation programs and strategy in the county's Department of Economic Initiatives.
She launched the Fairfax Founders Fund, a grant and technical assistance program for early-stage tech startups. The fund has assisted 150 companies, including startups in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The 18 companies that received grants have since raised more than $23 million in additional funding.
Nahapetian conceived and led Relay, Virginia's first state-funded connected and autonomous vehicle pilot. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute served as lead research partner. In addition, she led five Innovation Challenge events that produced five pilot projects. Regional partners have since adopted the model.
She led development of a Northern Virginia AI coalition. She also secured funding for regional investment forums that have helped presenting companies raise more than $30 million.