David Johnson Urges Utility Leaders to Invest in Resilience Over Hype

September 16, 2025 at 13:38 PM EDT

Texas, US, 16th September 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, After decades of shaping some of America’s most critical infrastructure systems, former Austin Water CIO and ERCOT IT Director David Johnson is using his recent in-depth interview to highlight a growing concern: public infrastructure is too often built around hype, not durability.

In his latest feature, Johnson reflects on his journey—from growing up on a cattle farm in Oklahoma to building the back-end systems of Texas’s deregulated energy market—and makes a call for leaders to rethink how resilience is designed and led.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that real transformation happens when people understand the systems they’re building,” Johnson says. “Too often, decisions are made from a distance—without ever stepping into a control room or walking the line.”

A Critical Time for Infrastructure

The warning comes at a pivotal moment. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, more than 70% of federal infrastructure systems are over 50 years old, while cyberattacks on utilities have risen 60% since 2020. Meanwhile, billions are being poured into digital transformation without a clear link to operational realities.

Johnson believes the solution lies in cross-functional leadership and deep context awareness—bridging IT, operations, compliance, and the field.

“You can’t manage what you don’t understand,” he adds. “If you’re building tech for a grid or water system, you should at least once stand inside a substation or treatment facility.”

Not Just Strategy—Culture

Johnson’s views, shaped by roles at ERCOT, EPB Chattanooga, and Austin Water, emphasise the value of small, consistent habits over grand strategies.

“Every day, I keep a simple printed sheet of my top priorities,” he shared in the interview. “It sounds old-school, but it keeps me honest and focused.”

He also called for cross-training teams, scenario-based learning, and building trust before crisis hits. These are strategies he used to lead global teams, manage budgets of over $100M, and retain 100% of his core team for more than a decade.

To read the full interview, visit the website here.

About David Johnson

David Johnson is a seasoned technology executive with over 25 years of experience in IT leadership, cybersecurity, and infrastructure modernisation across the utility sector. He has served in key roles at American Airlines, Deloitte, ERCOT, EPB Chattanooga, and most recently as CIO of Austin Water. Known for bridging the gap between operations and IT, David has led major digital transformations, built resilient high-availability systems, and managed budgets exceeding $100 million. Raised on a cattle farm in Oklahoma, he brings a grounded, systems-first approach to leadership—and continues to advocate for smarter, people-driven public infrastructure.

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David Johnson Urges Utility Leaders to Invest in Resilience Over Hype

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