Vytautas Butrimas, a non-engineer turned cybersecurity advocate, spent a distinguished career (1993–2023) shaping national and international approaches to securing industrial control systems (ICS). Initially working for the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence and later with NATO, he quickly recognized that traditional IT‑focused cybersecurity models failed to address the unique vulnerabilities of operational technologies in critical infrastructure. Through open-minded leadership and critical evaluation of existing policies, he became a leading ambassador for promoting system-aware defenses, often challenging IT‑centric frameworks.

During his five-year tenure at NATO’s Energy Security Centre of Excellence in Vilnius, Butrimas authored a comprehensive guide based on over a decade of research and field visits to energy infrastructures—including pipelines and electrical grids. This guide not only analyzes notable cyber incidents like the Colonial Pipeline attack but also proposes robust, enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategies tailored for industrial automation systems. His forthcoming memoir promises to preserve the legacy of those early pioneers in technology, security, and defense policy.

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Source: https://www.controlglobal.com/blogs/unfettered/blog/55299070/vytautas-butrimas-championed-control-system-cybersecurity-during-his-career