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Kevin D. Johnson

Field CTO – HPC, AI, LLM & Quantum Computing | Principal HPC Cloud Technical Specialist at IBM | Symphony • GPFS • LSF

Arizona State University IBM

Austin, Texas, United States 500+ connections

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About

Field CTO and Principal HPC Cloud Technical Specialist at IBM, providing strategic technical leadership at the intersection of high-performance computing, AI, and quantum computing. I guide enterprise and research organizations through complex decisions in HPC infrastructure, large-scale AI deployment, and hybrid cloud architecture. In 2025, I developed and delivered a portfolio of production demos spanning vLLM on Symphony, multi-GPU orchestration, quantum-enhanced Monte Carlo, and hybrid cloud compute—several successfully used in client engagements. Current focus: designing proof-of-concept architecture bringing KV cache control to Symphony and Storage Scale for optimizing vLLM at scale, plus quantum-enhanced LLM inference providing confidence validation via IBM Quantum hardware. Additional work includes quantum-inspired applications, data obfuscation pipelines,

and emerging neuromorphic AI on edge devices (Akida).

Previously contributed to IBM Research's Analog AI (AIHW) initiative. Core expertise: IBM Spectrum Symphony • IBM Storage Scale (GPFS) • IBM Spectrum LSF • vLLM & LLM inference • Quantum computing • Neuromorphic edge AI • Hybrid cloud Doctoral research (Arizona State University, expected 2026): Investigating coordination ontologies through computational-empirical methods. Dissertation includes a distributed coordination architecture implementing role persistence, partition tolerance, and AI-mediated knowledge transfer at scale (40,000+ coordinating agents)—exploring how infrastructure design embodies ontological commitments about knowledge, agency, and governance. Development approach: AI-augmented rapid prototyping—leveraging generative AI as a core methodology to accelerate from concept to working system. Contributor to IBM's certification program as an Exam Developer. Additional graduate work in Global Technology & Development, Finance (MBA, MAcc), and Theology—an interdisciplinary foundation informing how I approach emerging technologies and their societal implications. Executive governance: School Board Director (Policy Committee Chair, $22M budget), Joint Operating Committee member, Volunteer Fire Department Treasurer (2026).