SIA Committee Chair of the Year Award

Recognizing Individuals for Leadership of a SIA Committee

About the SIA Committee Chair of the Year Award

The SIA Committee Chair of the Year Award is presented to the individual who, in his or her leadership of an SIA committee, has demonstrated excellence in leading SIA committees and advancing member objectives. The Committee Chair of the Year Award is presented at The Advance, SIA's annual membership meeting held during ISC West.

SIA @025 Committee Chair of the Year Award Jeff Huggins ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions2025 SIA Committee Chair of the Year: Jeff Huggins

SIA has named Jeff Huggins, vice president for government programs and national accounts at ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions, as the 2025 recipient of the SIA Committee Chair of the Year Award. Since 2024, Huggins has served as the first-ever chair of SIA’s Veterans in Security community, which focuses on the issues and concerns of veterans and active military members who are in – or are interested in joining – the security industry. As chair, Huggins leads the SIA Veterans in Security Advisory Board, which includes eight industry leaders and veterans and brings immense value to the community’s efforts to support veterans and active military as they join and work in the security industry.

Under Huggins’ leadership, the Veterans in Security community has held events, including a networking reception featuring insights from James Rodriguez, assistant secretary for veterans’ employment and training service at the U.S. Department of Labor, and a special event in honor of Veterans Day at President Lincoln’s cottage. In December 2024, Huggins was influential in guiding the community’s launch of the SIA Veterans Employment Exchange, which specializes in matching veterans and separating military members with open positions in the security industry. The unique online tool is free to all SIA members and job seekers.

[View the full announcement.]

Previous Committee Chairs of Year

  • 2023: Lee Odess
  • 2022: Alice DiSanto
  • 2021: Matt Feenan
  • 2020: Kathleen Carroll
  • 2019: Chris Grniet
  • 2018: James Marcella
  • 2017: John Steele
  • 2016: Peter Michael
  • 2015: Richard Brent
  • 2013: John Hunepohl
  • 2012: Frank Gastonyi