Mark Johnson

The counsel we need often comes from the team, not from above. Some of the most important lessons I’ve learned came from peers and team members.

Leadership means being open to feedback from every direction. The best decisions happen when you listen beyond the chain of command.

Why cloud repatriation is back on the CIO agenda CIOs aren’t ditching the cloud — they’re moving some workloads back home to cut costs, meet rules and keep performance in check.

On-prem remains essential for government missions. Data sovereignty, continuity of operations, and security requirements keep data centers in play. The goal of hybrid cloud is aligning workloads with mission needs, and for many agencies, that still includes on-prem.

Americans Prioritize AI Safety and Data Security Most Americans favor maintaining rules for AI safety and security, as well as independent testing and collaboration with allies in developing the technology.

Gallup found only 3% of Americans fully trust AI to make fair decisions. Over half want federal regulation for safety and data security. The priority now is building the trust that makes operational use possible.

Without trust, adoption stalls.

The problem with generative AI is trust. That’s what matters. If we can’t trust it, we can’t use it in government systems. Operational use of AI depends on accuracy, explainability, and governance. Missions require outcomes that are verifiable and reliable.

The problem with generative AI is trust. That’s what matters. If we can’t trust it, we can’t use it in government systems.

Operational use of AI depends on accuracy, explainability, and governance. Missions require outcomes that are verifiable and reliable.

I’ve seen people spend hours chasing a missing dollar in compensation while overlooking the opportunity to land the next $100,000 deal. Leadership is about showing where time and energy generate the most impact and helping teams shift from pennies to priorities.

AI-Generated “Workslop” Is Destroying Productivity Despite a surge in generative AI use across workplaces, most companies are seeing little measurable ROI. One possible reason is because AI tools are being used to produce “workslop”—content that appea...

Interesting HBR article about "workslop" from poor use of GenAI. Misused tools create poor outputs that drain productivity and trust. How are you employing GenAI? hbr.org/2025/09/ai-g...

In business and in the cockpit, hesitation is costly. On my first solo flight, I learned to trust the training, make the call, and keep going. Progress only happens when you choose to move forward.

In business and in the cockpit, hesitation is costly. On my first solo flight, I learned to trust the training, make the call, and keep going.

Progress only happens when you choose to move forward.

Encryption depends on trust, transparency, and testing. Early rollouts often highlight speed over assurance, which is why leaders should press for evidence before adoption. Security has to be proven in practice.

Axios Future of Cybersecurity

Loss of MS-ISAC funding puts nearly 19,000 local agencies at risk, from schools to utilities to law enforcement.

We need resilient security strategies that can withstand funding changes and sustain mission assurance.

Cloud isn’t going to be everything. The future is hybrid. Defense & intelligence missions need both flexibility and resilience; some workloads in the cloud, others on-prem for security or assurance. The leaders who balance both will set the standard.

Cloud isn’t going to be everything.
The future is hybrid.

Defense & intelligence missions need both flexibility and resilience; some workloads in the cloud, others on-prem for security or assurance. The leaders who balance both will set the standard.

That’s quite a lineup. Scams, industrial ransomware, & a record breaking DDoS. It shows how broad the threat surface has become. Prevention alone isn’t enough. The priority has to be continuity of operations under pressure, how fast you can isolate, recover, & sustain when the attack gets through.

#LLMs don’t reason. Designing systems that treat them like people = brittle frameworks. Use them for what they do well & pair with tools built for trust + reasoning. More: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/its-time-set-record-straight-llms-intelligent-matters-mark-johnson-f0ake/

#LLMs don’t reason. Designing systems that treat them like people = brittle frameworks. Use them for what they do well & pair with tools built for trust + reasoning.

More: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/its-time-set-record-straight-llms-intelligent-matters-mark-johnson-f0ake/

AI means cyber teams are rethinking their approach to insider threats Threat actors are drawing on sophisticated AI tools to ramp up insider threats

Insider threats are rising with AI. But the real issue isn’t the tech, it’s adoption.

Only 44% use behavioral analytics.

AI can harden defense if leaders deploy it with governance + intent.

#LLMs predict; humans make the call, especially in critical ops. Guardrails: clear decision bounds, audit logs, red-teaming, measurement & rollback. My full take on this: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/its-time-set-record-straight-llms-intelligent-matters-mark-johnson-f0ake/

#LLMs predict; humans make the call, especially in critical ops. Guardrails: clear decision bounds, audit logs, red-teaming, measurement & rollback.

My full take on this: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/its-time-set-record-straight-llms-intelligent-matters-mark-johnson-f0ake/

#LANDEURO Wiesbaden was one of the best events this year. The mix of US, NATO, & Ukrainian leaders showed a bias for action. Ukraine is testing fast, starting small, running vendors in parallel, scaling what works. DoD’s use of OTAs is rising. Smart speed + iteration wins.

Microsoft says U.S. law takes precedence over Canadian data sovereignty Microsoft representative says US CLOUD Act comes before other country's sovereignty.

#DataSovereignty is solvable with smart architecture. The Microsoft/Canada story shows jurisdiction matters, so design for it. Hybrid-by-design wins on control, resilience, and cost. Keep sensitive data on your infra, use customer-held keys, automate, test recovery. #GovTech

Happy #LaborDay to the people who keep missions moving: public servants, operators, maintainers, engineers, cyber defenders, manufacturers, program teams. I'm grateful for your craft & pride in work & I remain committed to backing your teams w/ the tools that work when it counts.

Happy #LaborDay to the people who keep missions moving: public servants, operators, maintainers, engineers, cyber defenders, manufacturers, program teams. I'm grateful for your craft & pride in work & I remain committed to backing your teams w/ the tools that work when it counts.

AI won't eviscerate jobs, says IBM CEO: "You're going to need more people" Krishna said there will be a ceiling to how much AI can improve productivity, estimating 30% for coders.

AI is reshaping work. I agree with Arvind Krishna: skills-first paths (apprenticeships, earn-and-learn) drive mobility.

My plan: map task shifts, fund upskilling, hire for capability, measure outcomes.

The goal: Higher-value work and better public services.

#AI #GovTech

NIST seeks to avoid reinventing the wheel with AI security guidance NIST wants to help cybersecurity professionals manage the multifaceted impact of AI on their work, without crushing them with too much new guidance.

I’m encouraged by NIST’s pragmatic AI security plan: a cyber AI profile mapped to the CSF and AI RMF with TEVV/red-teaming emphasized. Leaders can align use cases to existing controls and invest in measurement.

#NIST #Cybersecurity #AIinGovernment

National Aviation Day celebrates flight & the people who make it possible. Flying F/A-18s shaped my leadership: preparation, trust, adaptability. Decide with the info at hand & rely on your team. That mindset guides my work in defense to this day. #Leadership #NationalAviationDay

National Aviation Day celebrates flight & the people who make it possible. Flying F/A-18s shaped my leadership: preparation, trust, adaptability. Decide with the info at hand & rely on your team. That mindset guides my work in defense to this day. #Leadership #NationalAviationDay

LLMs generate predictions, not knowledge or reasoning. In high-stakes environments, false trust in these systems leads to real risk. Before scaling AI in government, we need clarity on what it actually does and where human judgment must remain in the loop. #AI #GovTech #LLMs

LLMs generate predictions, not knowledge or reasoning. In high-stakes environments, false trust in these systems leads to real risk. Before scaling AI in government, we need clarity on what it actually does and where human judgment must remain in the loop.

#AI #GovTech #LLMs

#AI infrastructure is changing the way we approach modernization from planning to execution. Data, energy, and compute are now strategic inputs. Real readiness depends on trust, bandwidth, and the systems built to support responsible adoption. #GovTech #DigitalTransformation

Turning data into actionable insights Government agencies have a unique opportunity to enhance their operations by integrating AI-driven search systems, GenAI and a data mesh architecture.

Federal agencies don’t need more data. They need better access.

AI search, GenAI, and data mesh can unlock real-time insights without duplication. The key is using what we already have, securely and intelligently.

#GovTech #AI #CloudInnovation

Too much federal tech stalls in pilot purgatory. The barrier is technical AND operational. To move from demo to deployment, we need programs built for adoption, not just experimentation. Innovation only matters when it reaches the mission.

#GovTech #FederalIT #Leadership

#LLMs aren't intelligent the way many think. This series will clarify misconceptions impacting security, trust, and government. Find more of my thoughts on this here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/its-time-set-record-straight-llms-intelligent-matters-mark-johnson-f0ake/

#LLMs aren't intelligent the way many think.

This series will clarify misconceptions impacting security, trust, and government.

Find more of my thoughts on this here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/its-time-set-record-straight-llms-intelligent-matters-mark-johnson-f0ake/

Here's the Strategy Smart Leaders Use to Outpace Disruption | Entrepreneur In a world where AI is reshaping industries overnight, agility is a leader's greatest asset.

Agility is the edge. In government, it means tracking trends early, clearing friction, empowering small teams, and tying progress to mission outcomes. Resilience comes from structure, not speed. The agencies that move with purpose will lead.

#GovTech #Agility #Leadership

21 years as a Navy pilot taught me: don’t bet everything on one option.

Same goes for cloud.
While others pushed “all-in,” I pushed hybrid.

Mission success demands flexibility, resilience, and realism.
Tech should serve the mission—not the trend.

From DOGE to Data: How Government Efficiency Shifts Are Fueling a New Era of Public Sector Tech Innovation From DOGE to Data: How Government Efficiency Shifts Are Fueling a New Era of Public Sector Tech Innovation

Data fuels real #GovTech transformation. Innovation isn’t just adopting AI or cloud... it’s embedding them into core missions.

Leaders who focus on mission-driven modernization & efficiency unlock more value. The future depends on deliberate, responsible digital integration.

Everyone loves free beer. 🍺 But open source software ... that’s a free puppy. 🐶 It might be free, but you're responsible for its health, safety, and behavior. For years. Code provenance, validation, and continuous assurance are mission-critical. Free doesn’t mean risk-free.

Everyone loves free beer. 🍺
But open source software ... that’s a free puppy. 🐶

It might be free, but you're responsible for its health, safety, and behavior. For years.

Code provenance, validation, and continuous assurance are mission-critical.

Free doesn’t mean risk-free.

Frameworks like RMF became checklists, not thinking tools. Real security? Accept smart risk. Train people to think, not comply. Back them when things go wrong. Ask "what protects us?" not "what's required?" Systems evolve—but if people don't, we're no safer. #Cybersecurity