Pentagon’s CIO to Step Down in June

The Pentagon has confirmed the departure of Chief Information Officer John Sherman, a 2024 Wash100 awardee, at the end of June.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a past Wash100 awardee, described Sherman as a steadfast adviser and an innovative leader who played a significant role in adopting and implementing the latest information technology and tackling digital challenges.

“His focus on mission readiness has ensured that each of the Services is equipped with both the capabilities and the digital workforce necessary for modern warfighting,” Austin said in a statement posted on Defense .gov.

Sherman will step down after more than two years as the Pentagon’s CIO to become the dean of Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government.

The DOD has yet to name his successor but Federal News Network reported that Leslie Beavers, the department’s principal deputy CIO, could fill the role on an interim basis.

Before he took on the position in December 2021, Sherman served as the CIA’s deputy director for open-source intelligence and as the Intelligence Community’s CIO.