UK cybersecurity officer earns OBE award for taking down LockBit ransomware group

The United Kingdom has awarded a British crimefighter for his role in taking down the notorious LockBit ransomware group in 2024. Gavin Webb is an officer of the National Crime Agency (NCA) and was among the names on the King’s most recent New Year Honours list for 2026. He was conferred with an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award.

OBEs are awarded to individuals who have achieved a distinguished feat regionally or countrywide in any field. The rank is only two tiers down from a knighthood or damehood. The NCA mentioned that the 51-year-old Webb was part of the officers who held a strategic role in Operation Cronos, which is described as the United Kingdom’s lead on the NCA-spearheaded international law enforcement operation responsible for disrupting LockBit.

Webb is the NCA’s regional head of multi-threat and border investigations. His assignment on Operation Cronos was one of a few brushes with cybercrime. Webb is charged with looking after serious cases involving firearms, drugs, and organized immigration crime.

United Kingdom awards officer for role in LockBit takedown

According to reports, Webb worked behind the scenes with others in the operation to disrupt the activities of the LockBit ransomware group, turning Dmitry Khoroshev’s infrastructure against him. According to an NCA official, Webb’s role was so impactful in the operation because he took on a leadership role that was instrumental to the success of what he described as a “tremendously complex operation.”

Webb’s role required working with international law enforcement to ensure success in the case. In addition, the official noted that Webb was also coordinating with local police, ensuring that everyone was brought along on plans, progress, and their responsibilities to make the operation successful.

He was also responsible for ensuring that every law enforcement officer who participated in the operation knew the order in which their duties were needed.

LockBit was a group that operated a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) platform between 2019 and 2024. During the period, the group grew to be ruthless, recruiting several members around the world and making its name in the ransomware world.

At some point, it was the most active and destructive ransomware group. The group operated across 120 countries, targeting victims and stealing important information for cash and digital assets.

NCA Director General hails the awarded officers

As previously reported by Cryptopolitan, the DOJ finalized the extradition of Rostislav Pandev, a developer who worked with the LockBit ransomware group, in March 2025. He confessed to authorities that he carried out several activities for the LockBit group, noting that he worked on coding, development, and sometimes did consulting work for the group.

He claimed that he created malware that disabled antivirus software and infected computers connected to a network. Pandev also confessed to providing technical guidance to the group.

Aside from Webb, five other NCA officers received MBE awards, but their identities were not revealed due to the important nature of their work. Graeme Biggar, the NCA Director General, mentioned that the honors were well deserved, noting that the officers awarded have truly gone above and beyond to support victims and protect the general public by ensuring that the most dangerous criminals are brought to book.

In addition, Samantha De Souza, programme director of economic and cybercrime at the Home Office, received an OBE for outstanding public service. The two co-founders of training provider Capslock, Lorna Armitage and Andrea Cullen, also received MBEs for their exceptional services to cybersecurity.

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