Security Industry Association Announces Names Jonathan Aguila as 2025 Insightful Practitioner Award Honoree

Jonathan Aguila—global services director, systems and technology at Meta—will be recognized at the 2025 SIA Celebrates & Honors event.

SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named Jonathan Aguila as the 2025 recipient of the SIA Insightful Practitioner Award, an honor recognizing excellence in promoting the implementation of innovative security solutions. Aguila will be recognized Nov. 19 during the 2025 SIA Celebrates & Honors event.

Jonathan Aguila is the global services director, systems and technology at Meta. He entered the security industry as a technician about 30 years ago and progressed through the industry, serving in roles in project management, global program management, national accounts and global accounts and then transitioning to the end-user space at Meta. Aguila previously served on the SIA Board of Directors’ Executive Committee and has advised the SIA Executive Committee on topics that were important to end users or could create additional value for them and has shared his insights as a speaker at SIA and other industry events. He has also provided leadership and expertise in the formation of SIA’s Security Systems Technician Apprenticeship Program for security technicians and installers.

During Aguila’s board tenure, he was a constant advocate for SIA within the practitioner community and strongly contributed to the vision for creating the Security Practitioners Advancing Real Conversations (SPARC) community, a forum for technical end users within SIA. SPARC is a community of security professionals dedicated to advancing state-of-the-art security technology that provides access to cutting-edge research, training and networking opportunities for its members and works to influence the direction of security technology standards and compliance. The community has produced intelligence reports on mobile credential development trends and guidance for evaluating artificial intelligence vendors and service providers, and further resources and publications are underway.

“I have always gravitated toward problem solving and helping people, so I transitioned to the end-user space to focus on wide-impact challenges and long-term implications within a single company, and growing a team that understands how to work across all aspects of the community has been a passion ever since,” said Aguila. “Giving back to the security industry and helping to improve collaboratively was the driver in working with SIA to form SPARC and the Apprenticeship Program. I am grateful for this award, but I am most grateful to be welcomed by the industry and to have the opportunity to help others feel welcomed and supported as well.”

“Jonathan Aguila is an innovative leader in our industry whose vision and initiative have propelled SIA’s efforts to engage with security practitioners and end users,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “He has been a tremendous advocate for SIA and SPARC as a community platform for end users, and his insights have been crucial in identifying end users’ top concerns and trends within the practitioner community. We applaud Jonathan for his many impressive contributions with SIA, Meta and the industry overall and thank him for his support of SIA and commitment to driving our industry forward, and we look forward to recognizing him at SIA Celebrates & Honors.”

SIA’s Insightful Practitioner Award was created to honor security practitioners who demonstrate leadership and excellence in promoting the implementation of innovative security solutions through education, advocacy and teamwork with the security industry and other stakeholders.

SIA Celebrates & Honors is a special event dedicated to leaders, legends and the next generation of security, held concurrently with ISC East—the Northeast’s leading security and public safety event, hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor SIA. On Wednesday, Nov. 19, security industry professionals of all ages will gather at City Winery in New York City for an unforgettable night of celebration, connection and entertainment—including upscale networking, gourmet dining, live music and a heartfelt awards program recognizing standout leaders who are shaping the future of our industry. Additionally, the event will support the work of the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST) to grow the security industry’s workforce. In addition to presenting the Insightful Practitioner Award, SIA will also present the 2025 George R. Lippert Memorial Award and Progress Award.

About SIA

SIA is the leading trade association for global security solution providers, with over 1,600 innovative member companies representing thousands of security leaders and experts who shape the future of the security industry. SIA protects and advances its members’ interests by advocating pro-industry policies and legislation at the federal and state levels, creating open industry standards that enable integration, advancing industry professionalism through education and training, opening global market opportunities and collaborating with other like-minded organizations. As the premier sponsor of ISC Events expos and conferences, SIA ensures its members have access to top-level buyers and influencers, as well as unparalleled learning and network opportunities. SIA also enhances the position of its members in the security marketplace through SIA GovSummit, which brings together private industry with government decision makers, and Securing New Ground, the security industry’s top executive conference for peer-to-peer networking.