Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed Alexandria resident Micah Edmonds, COO of Kloke Cybersecurity, to the Virginia Israel Advisory Board in his latest round of state appointments announced Friday.
Edmonds becomes the sixth Alexandria resident to receive a state appointment in the past two weeks. Last Friday, Youngkin named five other locals to Virginia university boards, including Daniel Gade (Christopher Newport University), Hillary Waldron (William & Mary), and Preston Cooper (George Mason University).
The Virginia Israel Advisory Board works to strengthen economic and cultural ties between Virginia and Israel, with a focus on technology partnerships. The board has helped facilitate Israeli companies that have contributed more than $5 billion to Virginia’s economy since 1986.
Edmonds’ cybersecurity background aligns with the board’s tech focus, particularly as both Virginia and Israel are major players in the cybersecurity sector. Northern Virginia is home to numerous cybersecurity firms and defense contractors.
Other notable Northern Virginia appointments in Friday’s announcement included former Delegate Chap Petersen to the State Board of Elections and former Delegate Randy Minchew to the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
