Ray O. Johnson, PhD

Operating Partner, Bessemer Venture Partners

Dr. Ray O. Johnson is an Operating Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. With a distinguished career spanning both industry and government, Dr. Johnson is the former Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President for Engineering, Technology, and Operations at Lockheed Martin Corporation, where he led more than 70,000 people, managed more than 4,000 programs, and played a crucial role in developing some of the Nation’s most vital security systems. In addition to his leadership roles at Lockheed Martin, Dr. Johnson also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Technology Innovation Institute and ASPIRE, which he grew into leading institutions in applied research and development. Dr. Johnson is also a former Air Force officer whose assignments included system survivability, communications, laser systems, as well as command and control.

Dr. Johnson holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma State University, where he is recognized in the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology Hall of Fame. He also holds MS and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, where he earned the Distinguished Alumni award. Dr. Johnson’s strategic insights and extensive experience have made him a sought-after speaker at international forums, including the World Economic Forum Annual Meetings in Davos.