JAXUSA Partnership, the regional economic development initiative of the JAX Chamber, has named OnDefend, a leading cyber security testing and advisory firm, that helps organizations continuously validate their investments against real-world adversaries, as the recipient of the 2025 Innovator of the Year Award.

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OnDefend CEO Chris Freedman accepts the 2025 JAXUSA Innovator of the Year Award at the annual JAXUSA awards banquet at the Florida Blue Conference Center in Jacksonville, Florida. The award recognizes OnDefend’s leadership and innovation in cybersecurity.

The JAXUSA Innovator of the Year Award recognizes an individual or company whose vision, creativity and technological advancements significantly strengthen the Jacksonville region’s competitive position. This award honors exceptional leadership and forward-thinking innovation that drive economic growth, elevate the region’s visibility and inspire new opportunities across Northeast Florida. Recipients embody the spirit of progress through championing new ideas, embracing emerging technologies and contributing to a more dynamic, resilient regional economy.

“OnDefend and Chris Freedman exemplify the type of innovative leadership that is driving Jacksonville’s economy forward,” said JAXUSA Partnership President Aundra Wallace. “Their cutting-edge work strengthens our region’s competitiveness and plays a vital role in attracting new businesses to Northeast Florida."

Founded in 2016 in Jacksonville, OnDefend’s mission is to help organizations prepare for and defend against real-world threats. By combining elite expertise with proprietary innovation, OnDefend has become a trusted leader in solving some of the most complex challenges in the information security industry. The company has expanded beyond its Jacksonville headquarters with a new office in Washington, D.C. and employs team members from coast to coast.

OnDefend highlights include:

• One of the largest U.S.-based red teams (ethical hackers)
• Proprietary in-house breach & attack simulation technology, BlindSPOT
• Selected as one of the Independent Security Inspectors for TikTok USDS which led into the evolvement of the Continuous Security Inspector program for other hyperscalers
• Leading the U.S. in cutting-edge programs that ensure IoT, device security as well as AI and LLM systems are secure

In 2024, OnDefend ranked number four on the Jacksonville Business Journal’s list of fastest-growing companies with an impressive 116% growth rate. The company has also been recognized by the University of Florida’s Gator-100, Florida State University’s Seminole 100 list of fastest-growing businesses, and GrowFL’s Companies to Watch.

Jacksonville native and OnDefend CEO Chris Freedman attributes this success to the innovators within the company.

“At OnDefend, we have built a team of some of the brightest minds in security, combining elite expertise with cutting edge proprietary technology to help both the public and private sectors prepare for real world threats. By moving beyond traditional methods and mirroring how adversaries actually operate, we help our customers protect their futures and strengthen our nation’s resilience to foreign threats, while driving innovation and investing back into the Jacksonville community that we proudly call home.”

About OnDefend

OnDefend stands at the forefront of preventative cybersecurity testing and advisory services, further strengthened by its proprietary automation and AI powered technologies including its advanced Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) Software-as-a-Service platform, BlindSPOT. A trusted partner to organizations worldwide, OnDefend empowers companies and nation to proactively combat real-world cyber threats across software, hardware, IoT, and AI while ensuring that security investments are well-utilized, effective, and measurable. For more information, visit www.ondefend.com.

About JAXUSA Partnership

JAXUSA Partnership is Northeast Florida’s regional economic development initiative, supporting business expansion, recruitment and talent development across the seven-county region. Working alongside public and private partners, JAXUSA drives strategic growth that enhances the region’s global competitiveness and overall economic vitality.

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“OnDefend and Chris Freedman exemplify the type of innovative leadership that is driving Jacksonville’s economy forward,” said JAXUSA Partnership President Aundra Wallace.