Joshua William Johnson

Joshua W. Johnson brings two decades of legal experience in national security, litigation, cybersecurity, data privacy, and artificial intelligence (AI) to his practice. He represents multinational corporations, government entities, technology companies, and defense contractors in complex regulatory matters, investigations, and enforcement actions. Joshua advises clients on cyber incident response, AI governance, export controls, sanctions, CFIUS, the False Claims Act, and emerging technologies. His work has included counseling organizations through internal investigations with geopolitical implications and representing them before congressional oversight committees.Joshua focuses on helping clients navigate high-stakes regulatory, operational, and compliance matters at the intersection of emerging technologies and national security law. His practice encompasses advising on the development and governance of AI technologies, coordinating with regulators on cyber, UAS (drone), and aerospace matters, and providing counsel on constitutional issues arising from technology use. Joshua has regularly appeared before House and Senate committees and works closely with U.S. agencies including the Intelligence Community, FBI, CISA, DHS, DOJ, State Department, and Treasury. He’s worked extensively with the National Security Council under multiple presidential administrations.Prior to private practice, Joshua served in senior national security positions as the Deputy General Counsel to the Commander of U.S. Cyber Command / Director of the National Security Agency (NSA), where he provided proactive legal counsel to senior DoD leaders on cyber operations (offensive and defensive), data privacy, AI, cryptocurrency, UAS (drones), complex investigations, and regulatory compliance. He also served as Senior Counsel to the Cyber National Mission Force’s AI Task Force and Public-Private Collaboration Center, where he led AI governance efforts, advised on AI frontier model adoption, and negotiated agreements with technology companies for national security purposes. His legal career includes positions as a federal prosecutor, appellate attorney, and Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Department of Justice.Joshua is an award-winning national security lawyer who advised the U.S. military’s most elite joint special operations forces conducting clandestine counterterrorism missions and cyber operations. He is a decorated combat veteran and former Army Ranger with a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.ConcentrationsCyberspace and Data - Cybersecurity, Offensive Cyber Warfare, Incident Response, Data Protection Artificial Intelligence - Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Public-Private Collaboration National Security Compliance - CFIUS, Export Controls, Sanctions, ITAR, EAR, Aerospace Complex Investigations - Internal, Government Agency, Congressional Emerging Technology - Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, UAS (Drones), Quantum ComputingRecognition & LeadershipAwards & AccoladesRecipient, “Major General William F. Garrison Award,” Presented to the Top Lawyer in U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Military Awards: Bronze Star (x2) Legion of Merit Defense Meritorious Service Medal Combat Action Badge Ranger TabExperience: Government and Military Experience: Deputy General Counsel, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) @ NSA, 2023-2026Senior Counsel, AI Task Force and Public-Private Collaboration, CNMF, 2024-2026Chief of Staff and Senior Counselor to Deputy Judge Advocate General, U.S. Army, 2022-2023Chief, Personnel Law and Policy, Administrative Law Division, 2020-2022Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Civil), U.S. Department of Justice, 2019-2020Litigation Attorney (Civil), Army Litigation Division, 2019-2020Deputy Staff Judge Advocate and Chief of Administrative & Civil Law, 101st Airborne Division, 2017-2019Attorney, Personnel Law and Policy, Administrative Law Division, 2014-2016Deputy Regimental Judge Advocate, 75th Ranger Regiment, 2011-2013Senior Legal Advisor, Deployed Task Force, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), 2011-2013Appellate Attorney (Criminal), Government Appellate Division, 2009-2011Senior Legal Advisor, Deployed, Task Force Duke, 1st Infantry Division, 2008-2009Prosecutor (Trial Counsel), III Armored Corps, 2006-2008