About Me
Veteran. Engineer. Defender.
I'm Chris Johnson, an engineer who uses this blog as a playground to explore technology and share what I learn as I build.
Most of what you'll see here is practical, hands-on experimentation: AI tools for development, automation, cloud projects, homelab builds, and whatever else I'm curious about that week. Sometimes it's security-related. Often it's not. The common thread is simple: ship things, learn fast, write it down, and help other builders do the same.
What I'm Building (and Writing About)
This site is where I document real work-in-progress, ideas and projects from concept to implementation:
- ▶Using AI copilots and agent workflows to design, code, debug, and refactor faster
- ▶Building small tools, scripts, and prototypes that solve real problems
- ▶Infrastructure experiments: cloud, networks, automation, and reliability
- ▶“How I built it” breakdowns, architecture notes, and lessons learned
- ▶Occasional deep dives into security when it overlaps with engineering reality
If you like engineering that's pragmatic, iterative, and a little experimental, you'll feel at home here.
The Journey
My career has taken a few sharp turns, but each one added a useful layer.
Military Service
Intelligence & Combat Operations
Intelligence analyst and combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Learned to evaluate complex information, identify patterns, and think in terms of adversaries and systems.
Chem/Bio Defense
Pentagon & US Capitol
Supported mission-critical operations at the Pentagon and US Capitol, environments where reliability and discipline aren't optional.
IT Operations
Service Desk to Developer
Ran through multiple layers of the stack: service desk, project management, and developer work. Built the broad technical foundation that everything else sits on.
Security Engineer & Cloud Architect
Security & Cloud Infrastructure
Designed and implemented security controls, hardened systems, and built cloud infrastructure, bridging defense with modern architecture.
Cybersecurity Defense Operations
Current Role
Working across security engineering and SOC operations, helping teams improve detection, response, and operational resilience.
At a certain point, I made the jump that changed everything: left contracting, moved to Florida, and went all-in on building a stronger technical foundation at FIU, earning my B.S. in Information Technology (Magna Cum Laude).
Security is part of my career, but this blog is broader than that. Think of it as an engineering lab notebook that occasionally crosses into defense work when it's relevant.
Why I Write
Because the fastest way to learn is to build in public.
This blog is my space to explore engineering with curiosity, use modern AI tools responsibly, and share the wins, failures, and patterns that actually hold up in the real world.
Welcome to the playground.
Skills & Expertise
Education
B.S. Information Technology
Florida International University
Magna Cum Laude