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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

#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/

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/

#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.

#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.

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

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

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

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/

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.

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.

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

AI Appreciation Day is a good reminder: let’s value AI for what it is, not what it isn’t. It’s a tool—not a thinker. Useful, fast, scalable. But not intelligent. More thoughts here: 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/its-time-set-record-straight-llms-intelligent-matters-mark-johnson-f0ake/

Sales doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Leaders who build cross-functional awareness—aligning sales with marketing, product, and customer success—create a competitive advantage. Eliminating "middle managers" will cost you in missed opportunities. #SalesLeadership #CrossFunctional #LeadershipLessons

July 4 reminds me that service evolves. From Navy pilot to defense tech, the mission is to protect what matters: securing clouds, managing AI risk, and translating policy into defense. Grateful to serve, just differently.

In both the military and federal sales, I’ve seen the same pattern repeat: It’s not the fastest team that wins. It’s the most disciplined one. Speed gets you attention. Resilience keeps you in the game.

Too many teams think they’re CMMC-ready. Most aren’t—even by a long shot. Once it’s in the RFP, it’s too late to catch up. This isn’t a box to check. It’s a pass/fail gate. No proof, no contract. If you haven’t started preparing, now’s the time. Waiting will cost you. #FederalSales

Sales teams thrive with single-client focus. Technical talent excels across multiple accounts. Align #TeamIncentives accordingly. Too many organizations use one-size-fits-all compensation models. Match your incentive structure to natural work patterns & watch performance soar. #Leadership

Cloud repatriation gaining traction: 37signals leaving AWS saves $1.3M yearly. In federal, we've always known strategic workload placement matters more than trends. The pendulum swings? #CloudStrategy #FederalIT #HybridCloud

True success isn't measured in dollars earned, but in missions advanced. Stop tracking every deal's commission—focus on delivering value to your customer's mission. In federal especially, where we ultimately serve Americans, this mindset transforms results. The money will follow. #FederalTech

Federal sales success demands problem solvers, not pitch artists. Agencies need partners who understand their challenges and speak their language. The best teams lead with solutions, not slideshows. Cultivate expertise first, sales second. #FederalSales #LeadershipInsights #GovSales

Today, I'm reminded how proud I am of my step-son Chad (who recently became a 2LT in the US Marines). From my military service to federal work, I've learned that true leadership is measured by impact, not rank. Seeing that same commitment in him is the greatest #FathersDay gift of all.

#OpenSource introduces risks enterprises can't accept without doing their own QA. Which is rarely actually done. Here's another example: easyjson, used across federal agencies, maintained by Russian developers tied to a sanctioned CEO. www.wired.com/story/easyjs...

Mission-first leadership means modeling what matters. I've seen fed sales reps obsess over $1 payouts while missing bigger opportunities. Effective leaders reframe: less tracking pennies, more chasing prospects. Show your team where to look, not just what to fix. #FederalSales #Leadership

🎯 Quick lesson from federal sales: Address setbacks immediately. Don't wait for quarterly training. Some say "let emotions settle" - but those raw moments hold our best insights. Real leadership means pausing to learn, even when it's uncomfortable. #Leadership #FederalSales

🎯 The 2025 CEO Study reveals a key insight: While 64% of CEOs rush tech investments, only 37% believe speed trumps precision. In federal tech, we've learned sustainable innovation needs both courage and careful preparation. Architecture matters more than quick wins. #Leadership

Stop waiting for quarterly reviews. When a rep challenges your decision, that's your coaching moment. Had it happen today—and those raw, honest conversations teach me as much as my team. Coach in real-time. Listen in real-time. Lead in real-time. #FederalSales #LeadershipLessons

Sales success in federal isn't about more tools—it's about focus. Remove obstacles so your team can build relationships that matter. What's one burden you could eliminate today that would free your reps to actually sell? #FederalSales #Leadership www.demandgenreport.com/demanding-vi...

After two decades in the Navy, I learned true leadership from those we honor today – it's not about who's in charge, but who steps forward when others step back. On Memorial Day, I remember the heroes who embodied this every day #MemorialDay #Leadership #Veterans

#VulnerabilityManagement has evolved. Many security teams still rely on outdated practices: scheduled scans, treating all CVEs equally, manual processes, and ignoring supply chain risks. Federal teams win by embracing continuous monitoring and risk-based prioritization.

Leadership requires listening first, then action. When my team challenged an executive decision I had already tried to change, I could have ignored them. Instead, they reminded me to never stop fighting for what is right. Great leaders know wisdom often comes from below. #ServantLeadership #Wisdom

Just read this very real supply chain risk story: rogue comms devices found inside Chinese solar inverters. If hardware can be compromised at this level, what are we missing in software? Especially in open source and gov procurement. The implications are bigger than solar. #SupplyChain #ZeroTrust

Financial incentives aren't enough. The best federal sales teams are driven by mission alignment and agency impact, not just compensation. Challenge your people to understand "why" before "how much" and watch performance soar. #FederalSales #LeadershipInsights #MissionFirst