With a career defined by empathy for the human toll of cybercrime and those who investigate it, community-focused leadership, and lasting impact, James “Jamie” Tomasello has been honored as M3AAWG’s 2026 Mary Litynski Award recipient.

The Mary Litynski Award is presented annually and recognizes those whose work has led to a safer online environment with global impact. James’s work has been invaluable in:

• Protecting the internet’s end users from abuse
• Improving mental health and addiction support for security and abuse personnel at all levels

“Through countless hours of volunteer work, Jamie has made the internet safer and M3AAWG significantly stronger. Jamie’s contributions, often carried out behind the scenes, have strengthened the foundation of our community and advanced the fight against online abuse in lasting ways. By normalizing mental health and addiction conversations, Jamie has helped our members and the wider community find safe spaces to receive ongoing help and support – ultimately allowing us to continue focusing on fighting online abuse to the best of our ability,” said Sara Roper, Chairperson of the M3AAWG Board of Directors.

Early Days of Anti-Abuse Work

Originally a college vocal-performance major, James diverted from that path after discovering the world of online security. As a dispatcher at an electrical-repair service company, James learned the ropes while problem-solving IT issues during the Windows 95 era. She later became a technical support specialist with a major internet service provider and eventually their Abuse and Security Coordinator. Those early days involved handling calls about viruses, port scanning, spam, and other security issues of the time, all of which helped broaden James’s depth of knowledge and abuse-fighting skills.

“I liked it because it was different, and I loved teaching people in the community how to keep their computers safe,” James said. 

From Passion to Practice: Elevating Cybersecurity Investigations

James’s fervor for cybersecurity and helping protect online users was fully ignited, and her cybersecurity career blossomed to new heights as she moved into a role at a law firm, specifically working on investigating cyber criminals who targeted end-users and service providers.

She developed a well-rounded approach to protecting end-users with a problem-solving perspective that blended experience with internet service providers, trust and safety, email and web security, and legal and compliance. Breaking down the silos between legal and technical teams was a critical aspect in the success of the cybersecurity investigations that James oversaw.  

Strengthening the Internet Through Service and Leadership

James has invested significant time in addressing spam, phishing, DDoS booters, cybersecurity, privacy, and user education issues. A trademark of her style is the ability to build healthy working relationships with stakeholders across the internet community, ultimately ensuring a safer and more secure internet for end users. James found M3AAWG to be an ideal forum for this layered, practical problem‑solving style because it brings so many diverse, multidisciplinary experiences and levels of expertise together.

“Many problems can be solved with empathy and collaboration. Rather than treating anti-abuse and security work as purely technical challenges, we must center the impact on those we’re protecting—truly understanding the havoc they experience. Only by keeping their well-being at the forefront of our decision-making and collaborating with peers across the industry can we develop solutions that effectively safeguard people while preserving the integrity of our shared ecosystem,” James said.

James stepped forward to serve in M3AAWG leadership roles as a Co-Chair across the Training, Program, and Technical Committees, helping shape the community-driven spirit that continues to define the organization today. Her volunteer leadership led to the creation of the Women of M3AAWG Birds of a Feather (BoF) group in 2011 and the M3AAWG Mentoring Program in 2012 — both of which have played a meaningful role in supporting members’ growth and strengthening community connection.

Championing Mental Health and Inclusion for an Entire Industry

While James’s career took off, she noticed a disturbing trend: many of her colleagues who worked in security were struggling with mental health and addiction — including James herself. While the roles of cybersecurity and anti-abuse professionals can be extremely rewarding, they also come with a profound burden.

Drawing on 14 years of sobriety, James advocated for safe spaces for industry peers facing similar challenges, while encouraging those in our industry to seek help, share experiences and resources, and support one another to prevent burnout and aid recovery. She embarked on several important initiatives, including:

• Presenting sessions at Black Hat about addiction in information security, assessing cognitive capacity and fatigue, and offering strategies to address mental health issues for cybersecurity professionals.
• Presenting on how to ensure psychological safety and proactively avoid burnout at Virus Bulletin and CERT-EU Annual Conferences.
• Promoting inclusive non-alcoholic alternatives at industry events with craft mocktails and developing cybersecurity-themed mocktail recipe cards for people to leverage without embarrassment or shame.

"This selfless work has had a ripple effect in addressing the abuse issues that plague the internet. By promoting a healthier, more resilient information‑security workforce, a byproduct of this work has been a safer internet for everyone," Sara added.

A Legacy That Continues to Shape What Comes Next

It is contributions like James’s that helped lay the foundation for M3AAWG’s continued evolution, making it possible for the organization to continually rise above the ever-changing threat landscape. 

As we embrace a new organizational structure and refined priorities, James’s legacy is reflected through our Leadership Mentor program for Priority Committee Chairs, SIG Leaders, Initiative Champions, and emerging leaders, who will continue to be guided, supported, and empowered, allowing them to make a lasting impact that continues to shape not only M3AAWG’s direction and success, but the overall abuse landscape as well.

Honoring Mary Litynski’s Lasting Impact

In 2010, we lost Mary Litynski, a tireless supporter of M3AAWG. The Award honors that legacy by recognizing dedicated individuals in service to our community. 

“I feel really honored,” James said. “It’s wonderful to be recognized by your peers for work that serves others, especially when you’re behind the scenes like Mary was. Honoring the operational ‘glue work’ that holds everything together is vital. This award celebrates the collective dedication of everyone who’s chosen to spend their careers in the trenches, making the digital world safer: one incident, one protocol, or one collaboration at a time.”

The Call to Honor Those Who Make an Impact

Would you like to honor someone who has made invaluable contributions to the anti-abuse landscape? Stay tuned to this blog and follow M3AAWG’s social channels (Facebook and LinkedIn) to learn when nominations open for M3AAWG’s two annual awards.

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