Texas Executive Urges IT Professionals to Focus on People, Not Just Platforms

AUSTIN, TX / ACCESS Newswire / July 2, 2025 / David Johnson, a former Chief Information Officer out of Austin, and a seasoned IT executive, is encouraging leaders across utilities and public-sector technology to double down on resilient infrastructure, transparent leadership, and team development. His call to action follows his recent profile in a career spotlight article titled "David Johnson: Guiding Tech-Driven Change in the City of Austin. "

Drawing from more than 25 years of experience in utilities, managed services, and digital transformation, Johnson is using his story to raise awareness about how IT can serve not just organizations-but entire communities.

"Technology is about tools," Johnson says. "But leadership is about trust."

Why This Matters: Risk, Retention, and Public Trust
Across the U.S., public utilities are facing a growing crisis in system resiliency and cybersecurity. A 2024 WaterISAC report found that 80% of U.S. water utilities lack basic cybersecurity protocols, and 56% have no formal incident response plans. "That's a real threat to public safety," Johnson warns. "We can't afford to treat modernization like a side project."

During his time as CIO in Austin, Johnson helped modernize core systems and adopted hybrid cloud solutions to ensure uptime, compliance, and scalability. "Resiliency isn't just about backup servers anymore," he explains. "It's about building with flexibility and foresight."

At the same time, the tech sector continues to face a workforce crisis. Government IT roles are left open an average of 55 days-far longer than in private industry-due to lack of retention and succession planning. Johnson, who retained 100% of his core team over an 11-year span, believes that needs to change.

"You don't build great systems without great people," he says. "And you don't keep great people unless you lead them with purpose."

From the Grid to the Cloud: Lessons from the Field
Johnson's career includes roles at American Airlines, Deloitte & Touche, Solid Systems, ERCOT, EPB of Chattanooga, and most recently, Austin Water. At EPB, he helped build one of the first fully automated smart grids in North America. At ERCOT, he led IT operations during Texas's deregulation shift.

"In every role, the mission was the same: serve people better through technology," he says. "The tools change, but the goal doesn't."

He's also led the construction of over 10 high-availability data centers, implemented enterprise analytics handling over 20 billion data points annually, and championed transitions from legacy platforms to cloud-based hybrid environments.

What You Can Do
Johnson believes that anyone working in tech-whether in public or private roles-has the power to improve lives. His suggestions:

Start with what's in front of you. Audit your systems. Understand your gaps.

Lead your people. Set clear goals, mentor others, and build succession plans.

Stay grounded. "In hard moments, I remember where I came from," Johnson says. "We grew our own vegetables. We didn't buy them at the store. That humility still drives me."

Invest in resilience. Not just in your tech stack, but in your thinking.

"Success isn't about a job title," he says. "It's about what you build-and who you build it for."

To read more, visit the website here.

About David Johnson
David Johnson is an IT executive and cybersecurity leader with over 25 years of experience in utilities, transportation, and managed services. He has held executive roles at EPB of Chattanooga, and ERCOT, and served time as an advisor for multiple academic and nonprofit boards. Johnson holds a B.S. from Covenant College and lives in Tyler, Texas, where he continues to help run his family's cattle farm.

Contact:
info@davidjohnson.com

SOURCE: David Johnson Austin