What Happens When You Mix a Technologist with a Soldier? You Get a CIO Like John Pisano

Few CIOs can say their careers grew in two worlds at once. For John Pisano, building an IT career while serving in the Army Reserve shaped a leadership style rooted in structure, resilience and a drive to solve hard problems with purpose.That dual path started early. John’s curiosity for technology pushed him to take apart computers long before he studied IT, and his service taught him discipline and adaptability that carried into every role that followed. Over nearly three decades in uniform and 25 years in industry, he built a career by stepping into unfamiliar work, asking bold questions and learning how the business side of technology really works.On this week’s Rookies to Rockstars, Amanda Ziadeh sits down with John, CIO of ASRC Federal, to talk about navigating uncertainty, building trust, handling imposter syndrome and redefining success around legacy and collective impact rather than titles.Today, John leads IT for a major federal contractor, but getting there meant taking risks, embracing lateral moves and leaning on mentors who pushed him to see beyond the next job.John also talked about:How the Army Reserve shaped how he leads and makes decisionsThe business lessons he had to learn by stepping into unfamiliar rolesWhy adaptability became his most important professional skillThe challenge that taught him simplicity often wins in technologyThe purpose-driven mindset that guided every major career transitionListen to a grounded, purpose-driven conversation on curiosity, service and what it takes to grow from a hands-on technologist into a leader who shapes teams and missions in federal IT.