Mark Johnson
@markjohnsonit.bsky.social
Helping Federal orgs get more from emerging tech. Husband, father, retired Navy pilot. IBM VP, but all opinions only mine.
I felt this last year. 2025 in the federal space was demanding: constant shifts, late guidance, and decisions made with incomplete information. What mattered most was staying present and honest with teams. I’m carrying that lesson into 2026: communication and consistency under pressure still matter.
Why Leadership Got More Challenging In 2025, According To Coaches
Executive coaches say leaders were overwhelmed in 2025. As AI-driven change accelerates, leaders are struggling with reactivity, disconnection, and identity transitions.
www.forbes.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:31 PM
I felt this last year. 2025 in the federal space was demanding: constant shifts, late guidance, and decisions made with incomplete information. What mattered most was staying present and honest with teams. I’m carrying that lesson into 2026: communication and consistency under pressure still matter.
With 2026 officially underway, I'm thinking about discipline.
To me, that looks like verification & follow-through. Speed & noise aren’t slowing down. Leaders have to check assumptions & own outcomes. That standard gives teams room to execute even when conditions shift.
To me, that looks like verification & follow-through. Speed & noise aren’t slowing down. Leaders have to check assumptions & own outcomes. That standard gives teams room to execute even when conditions shift.
January 16, 2026 at 3:41 PM
With 2026 officially underway, I'm thinking about discipline.
To me, that looks like verification & follow-through. Speed & noise aren’t slowing down. Leaders have to check assumptions & own outcomes. That standard gives teams room to execute even when conditions shift.
To me, that looks like verification & follow-through. Speed & noise aren’t slowing down. Leaders have to check assumptions & own outcomes. That standard gives teams room to execute even when conditions shift.
Lately I’ve been thinking about how confidence gets mistaken for correctness. Fast systems may feel reliable before they’re proven, but trust comes from validation & context. As AI evolves, leaders have to slow the moment & ask where verification and judgment stay in the loop.
January 14, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Lately I’ve been thinking about how confidence gets mistaken for correctness. Fast systems may feel reliable before they’re proven, but trust comes from validation & context. As AI evolves, leaders have to slow the moment & ask where verification and judgment stay in the loop.
Teams take cues less from meetings and more from what leaders reinforce day to day. I saw it in the Navy and I see it in federal tech. Calm under pressure and ownership set the tone. Teams rise to the standard you walk with.
January 13, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Teams take cues less from meetings and more from what leaders reinforce day to day. I saw it in the Navy and I see it in federal tech. Calm under pressure and ownership set the tone. Teams rise to the standard you walk with.
Agentic AI can improve federal service delivery, but it also compresses decision space. I read this as a leadership issue as much as a tech one. When systems act on behalf of users, there needs to be clear ownership, oversight, and auditing.
Agentic experience’s promise to transform federal service delivery
By applying human-centered design principles to agentic technologies, agencies can create experiences that are equitable and effective.
federalnewsnetwork.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Agentic AI can improve federal service delivery, but it also compresses decision space. I read this as a leadership issue as much as a tech one. When systems act on behalf of users, there needs to be clear ownership, oversight, and auditing.
Last weekend, my wife asked GenAI for a walking route in NYC. It answered confidently... & was completely wrong. Minor, but instructive. Usefulness isn’t the same as trust. As hype fades, leaders need discipline in tool choice & governance.
4 mandates for CIOs to bridge the AI trust gap
The power of AI is undeniable, but without trust, its promise will remain dangerously constrained.
www.cio.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Last weekend, my wife asked GenAI for a walking route in NYC. It answered confidently... & was completely wrong. Minor, but instructive. Usefulness isn’t the same as trust. As hype fades, leaders need discipline in tool choice & governance.
Security clearance data sits at the center of trust and readiness. When it’s inaccurate, the effects show up fast: delays for people, uncertainty for teams, and risk to mission execution. I see this as a leadership responsibility that requires ownership, discipline, and follow-through.
Inaccuracies plague government security clearance data
The issue has remained on GAO’s High Risk List since 2018.
federalnewsnetwork.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Security clearance data sits at the center of trust and readiness. When it’s inaccurate, the effects show up fast: delays for people, uncertainty for teams, and risk to mission execution. I see this as a leadership responsibility that requires ownership, discipline, and follow-through.
Wishing everyone a restful holiday season. Grateful for the people I’ve worked alongside and learned from this year. It’s been demanding, and the professionalism and sense of mission across teams made the difference. Hope the days ahead offer time to reset before the work ahead.
December 24, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Wishing everyone a restful holiday season. Grateful for the people I’ve worked alongside and learned from this year. It’s been demanding, and the professionalism and sense of mission across teams made the difference. Hope the days ahead offer time to reset before the work ahead.
Good to spend the evening with the FCA community last week. After a long year, rooms like this matter. These conversations build trust and alignment, even if they don’t make headlines. Grateful for a community that keeps showing up. Wishing everyone a strong close to the year.
December 23, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Good to spend the evening with the FCA community last week. After a long year, rooms like this matter. These conversations build trust and alignment, even if they don’t make headlines. Grateful for a community that keeps showing up. Wishing everyone a strong close to the year.
There are moments when the big picture is so full of unknowns that looking too far ahead only adds pressure. In my experience, narrowing the horizon helps teams stay grounded & give people room to build momentum while the larger situation settles.
Small steps create clarity where there wasn’t any.
Small steps create clarity where there wasn’t any.
December 19, 2025 at 4:20 PM
There are moments when the big picture is so full of unknowns that looking too far ahead only adds pressure. In my experience, narrowing the horizon helps teams stay grounded & give people room to build momentum while the larger situation settles.
Small steps create clarity where there wasn’t any.
Small steps create clarity where there wasn’t any.
The Navy taught me that a briefing isn't complete just because no one has questions. A leader’s job is to create space for clarity. Ask the extra question. Make room for perspective. Alignment is a shared understanding, not the absence of noise.
December 17, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The Navy taught me that a briefing isn't complete just because no one has questions. A leader’s job is to create space for clarity. Ask the extra question. Make room for perspective. Alignment is a shared understanding, not the absence of noise.
I think most salespeople reach a point where every deal becomes a scorecard. But that mindset always leads to the same problem: losing sight of your "why," which inevitably impacts your bottom line.
If this sounds familiar, take my advice: focus on impact (not numbers ). The rest will follow.
If this sounds familiar, take my advice: focus on impact (not numbers ). The rest will follow.
December 16, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I think most salespeople reach a point where every deal becomes a scorecard. But that mindset always leads to the same problem: losing sight of your "why," which inevitably impacts your bottom line.
If this sounds familiar, take my advice: focus on impact (not numbers ). The rest will follow.
If this sounds familiar, take my advice: focus on impact (not numbers ). The rest will follow.
AI-driven threats are accelerating while key teams face staffing and resource pressure. Readiness rests on people, training, and clear goals. When the pace rises, fundamentals (identity, patching, response) matter even more.
The U.S. has been cutting cyber defenses as AI boosts attacks
While artificial intelligence powers the offense, defense guidance is spotty and fewer officials are in a position to help fend off hackers and spies.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:07 PM
AI-driven threats are accelerating while key teams face staffing and resource pressure. Readiness rests on people, training, and clear goals. When the pace rises, fundamentals (identity, patching, response) matter even more.
Worth reading. The AI vs budget gap creates pressure on teams already carrying a heavy load. When funding slows but attack surface and automation increase, leaders have to be precise about priorities, talent, and resilience.
Cyber Budgets Slow, AI Surges: What the Data Says About 2026
In a mixed economic environment, how are cybersecurity budgets competing among business priorities, and what may be ahead for 2026?
www.govtech.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Worth reading. The AI vs budget gap creates pressure on teams already carrying a heavy load. When funding slows but attack surface and automation increase, leaders have to be precise about priorities, talent, and resilience.
A team willing to push back is a safeguard. I’ve made calls my team challenged, and they were right. And it made me a better leader. That kind of honesty keeps decisions sharp and the mission aligned with reality. A leader needs people who speak up with clarity and purpose.
December 9, 2025 at 1:50 PM
A team willing to push back is a safeguard. I’ve made calls my team challenged, and they were right. And it made me a better leader. That kind of honesty keeps decisions sharp and the mission aligned with reality. A leader needs people who speak up with clarity and purpose.
This year has shown that uncertainty is now part of the operating environment. Yet the teams in my orbit stay focused on capability, security, and forward momentum. As we wrap the year, I’m grateful for the colleagues who stay grounded and keep the mission moving.
December 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
This year has shown that uncertainty is now part of the operating environment. Yet the teams in my orbit stay focused on capability, security, and forward momentum. As we wrap the year, I’m grateful for the colleagues who stay grounded and keep the mission moving.
Hybrid cloud is becoming the federal baseline. Agencies are moving from “cloud as a destination” to finding the right mix for mission, risk, and legacy systems. The priorities are clear: align workloads, build skills, and keep cost discipline front and center.
Hybrid Cloud Is the New Agency End State
The government understands it needs to be smarter about whether workloads live in the cloud or on-premises.
fedtechmagazine.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Hybrid cloud is becoming the federal baseline. Agencies are moving from “cloud as a destination” to finding the right mix for mission, risk, and legacy systems. The priorities are clear: align workloads, build skills, and keep cost discipline front and center.
I try to be deliberate about where I give. One organization I trust is the Gary Sinise Foundation. Their work is concrete—adapted smart homes that restore independence and dignity for wounded warriors. If you’re giving this season, their impact is real and steady.
Donate to Giving Tuesday 2025
Your donation will be matched for Giving Tuesday! Support America's heroes today.
donate.garysinisefoundation.org
December 2, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I try to be deliberate about where I give. One organization I trust is the Gary Sinise Foundation. Their work is concrete—adapted smart homes that restore independence and dignity for wounded warriors. If you’re giving this season, their impact is real and steady.
Decisions rarely come with a perfect picture. Aviation taught me that—you prepare, you check conditions, and you still have to commit. Leadership works the same way. The moment often arrives before you feel ready, and the mission moves when you make the call with discipline and judgment.
December 1, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Decisions rarely come with a perfect picture. Aviation taught me that—you prepare, you check conditions, and you still have to commit. Leadership works the same way. The moment often arrives before you feel ready, and the mission moves when you make the call with discipline and judgment.
Today is a reminder of the trust & collaboration of small businesses. Example: On our recent Japan trip, my wife Kellie met another small biz owner & they devised a plan to support each other’s work. It’s the small business ecosystem at its best: people helping each other deliver.
November 29, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Today is a reminder of the trust & collaboration of small businesses. Example: On our recent Japan trip, my wife Kellie met another small biz owner & they devised a plan to support each other’s work. It’s the small business ecosystem at its best: people helping each other deliver.
Thanksgiving reminds me of the years spent away from home during Navy service, and now our son carries that same rhythm as a Marine. Grateful for those on watch today and for the families who steady them. From our family to yours, thank you for your service.
November 27, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Thanksgiving reminds me of the years spent away from home during Navy service, and now our son carries that same rhythm as a Marine. Grateful for those on watch today and for the families who steady them. From our family to yours, thank you for your service.
As I look back on 2025, I keep thinking about the value ACT-IAC & AFCEA bring to our community. These organizations create space for honest discussions between government & industry at a time when defense acquisition & technology are shifting fast. Grateful for those who keep that dialogue going.
November 24, 2025 at 2:21 PM
As I look back on 2025, I keep thinking about the value ACT-IAC & AFCEA bring to our community. These organizations create space for honest discussions between government & industry at a time when defense acquisition & technology are shifting fast. Grateful for those who keep that dialogue going.
AI and machine learning are now part of daily operations at the DEA & it shows a lot of promise: advancing analysis, training, & decision speed. Progress depends on leadership that aligns technology with mission outcomes & keeps innovation grounded in trust & accountability.
The DEA’s Tech Surge: AI Propels Advancements in Enforcement
AI and machine learning are supercharging the Drug Enforcement Administration’s efforts to protect Americans from dangerous narcotics.
www.executivegov.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:27 PM
AI and machine learning are now part of daily operations at the DEA & it shows a lot of promise: advancing analysis, training, & decision speed. Progress depends on leadership that aligns technology with mission outcomes & keeps innovation grounded in trust & accountability.
The “build-your-own” model with open source code sounds flexible, but it often leads to fragmentation and delay. Federal missions need robust shared platforms that connect people, data, and systems. Integration creates resilience. Reinvention burns time and trust.
November 19, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The “build-your-own” model with open source code sounds flexible, but it often leads to fragmentation and delay. Federal missions need robust shared platforms that connect people, data, and systems. Integration creates resilience. Reinvention burns time and trust.
Hybrid cloud is now the federal baseline, balancing private, public, and on-prem to meet mission demands. Success depends on clarity, skills, and disciplined cost control. Strategy drives readiness; architecture follows the mission.
Hybrid Cloud Is the New Agency End State
The government understands it needs to be smarter about whether workloads live in the cloud or on-premises.
fedtechmagazine.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Hybrid cloud is now the federal baseline, balancing private, public, and on-prem to meet mission demands. Success depends on clarity, skills, and disciplined cost control. Strategy drives readiness; architecture follows the mission.