CIS Statement on the Passing of CIS Co-Founder Board Ramon Barquin

The Center for Internet Security, Inc. (CIS^®) marks with deep sadness the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Ramon Barquin, Director of the CIS Board of Directors.

A gifted technologist with a global footprint, his career spanned more than five decades and took him to five continents. With a Ph.D. from MIT in electrical engineering and mathematics, Ramon moved effortlessly between the academic world, the corporate world, and the world of public service. He taught at MIT, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the University of Maryland, and made significant contributions during his time at IBM before founding Barquin International, a respected consulting firm based in Washington, D.C.

“Ramon was the kind of person you don’t forget — not because he demanded attention, but because he earned your respect through a lifetime of quiet, thoughtful leadership,” said Tony Sager, CIS Chief Evangelist. “He was ahead of his time in so many ways — one of the early thinkers in decision support systems and ‘big data’ long before those terms became buzzwords.”

Ramon helped found The Data Warehousing Institute and served as its first president, building a community around a shared vision of turning data into meaningful decisions. He also brought his leadership to roles at The Washington Consulting Group, Atlantic University College, and the Washington Hospital Center. He served on the DHS Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee, where he brought a thoughtful perspective on the intersection of cybersecurity and civil liberties. And perhaps as a reminder to us that life is meant to be lived fully, in his youth he was an international judo competitor and a judge in four Olympic Games.

But here at the Center for Internet Security, we remember Ramon best for something else: his gift for creating connection. In 2000, he hosted the meeting that would become the birthplace of CIS. For nearly 25 years after, he served as a guiding light on our Board. Ramon had a remarkable ability to see beyond the technology — to the people, the mission, and the knowledge we build together. He saw technology not just as a tool, but as a means to gather and grow human understanding, to form communities of practice, and to elevate storytelling as a path to leadership and learning.

“Ramon led with humility, wisdom, and an unwavering belief in the power of collaboration. We were lucky to have him as one of our founders, and his legacy will continue to guide us in the future,” said CIS President and CEO John Gilligan.

The CIS Board of Directors and leadership team express their heartfelt condolences to Ramon’s loved ones, including his family, friends, and colleagues as they mourn the loss of this remarkable individual who impacted so many lives.

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