Tom Kennedy still remembers the moment a prototype — years in the making — finally clicked into place for the Defense Department. After a long partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit, Axonius’ cyber asset inventory management technology didn’t just pass a pilot program. It changed how DOD tracks vulnerabilities across its vast digital infrastructure.
“It led to a pretty broad adoption across the DOD and had a large impact on their cybersecurity posture and ability to recognize vulnerabilities in a timely manner and respond,” said Kennedy, vice president and general manager of Axonius Federal Systems LLC.
Since 2020, Axonius has worked closely with DIU to develop and test tools that help federal agencies get a clearer picture of their cyber assets — and turn fragmented data into actionable insight. It’s one example of how Kennedy, who spent more than three decades in public sector technology, seeks to align innovation with mission.
“I’ve always really enjoyed leading teams and bringing great technology to the government and doing a small part to serve the mission that they support,” he said.
The FedRAMP Climb
As cloud technologies continue to reshape how governments deliver services, Kennedy said the industry has grown more strategic about where cloud makes sense — and where it doesn’t. Still, challenges remain. Security certifications are at the top of that list.
Axonius recently achieved FedRAMP certification, a federal security standard that allows cloud providers to serve U.S. agencies. The process, while necessary, is often lengthy and costly.
“It was a very exciting milestone for us and our customers,” Kennedy said. “But it was a very long journey and a very expensive journey.”
Kennedy believes there’s room to streamline the process, which could encourage more innovation and lower the barrier of entry for companies eager to support the public sector mission.
Turning Data Into Action
As agencies become increasingly data-driven, Kennedy said one of the biggest challenges is fragmentation.
“Today, it’s not so much about getting to the data,” he said. “The challenge is that it’s often siloed or fragmented. And as we’ve become more data-oriented, the bigger issue is: How do we make it actionable?”
He frequently urges government teams to master the basics — a foundational approach he also advocates in public speaking and thought leadership engagements.
“Any cybersecurity framework — zero trust, the Center for Internet Security controls — all of them emphasize fundamentals,” Kennedy said. “Maintaining a solid baseline source of truth is essential in an ever-changing environment.”
That same approach underpinned the Axonius partnership with DIU and continues to inform how Kennedy sees the future of cybersecurity evolving — particularly with the integration of artificial intelligence to better identify relevant signals in massive data sets.
“Getting to what’s relevant is time-consuming and hard,” he said. “I think AI is going to help agencies be more effective in their cybersecurity strategies.”
‘Inspect What You Expect’
Kennedy’s leadership style is rooted in a desire for clarity, consistency and leading by example. It’s a mindset shaped by early-career mentors and a sales principle he has carried with him over the years.
“There’s an old sales saying: ‘Inspect what you expect,’” he said. “I think that’s so important — to have clear expectations and to hold people accountable to them. If something is important to your culture or your business, you have to model it.”
When building teams, Kennedy looks for leaders who understand the nuances of the government market and who care deeply about the agency missions they support.
“Passion for the mission is essential,” he said. “Customers gravitate toward people who are empathetic to the journey the government is on and can relate. That matters in a highly regulated, complex market.”
Kennedy believes companies operating in the federal space must hold themselves to higher standards because their customers expect it — and demand it.
The Long Game and a Personal Mission
Kennedy didn’t always picture a career in federal technology. He majored in quantitative business analysis in college and expected that to lead to Wall Street and a career in financial services. But after graduating college, it was technology — and the chance to make a difference in the public sector — that ultimately captured his interest.
Alongside his professional pursuits, Kennedy enjoys staying involved in his children’s academic lives. He and his wife serve on the parent councils for both the University of Miami and Furman University, where their two college-age children attend.
“I really enjoy being involved with their schools and supporting their journeys,” he said.
Whether coaching a team, mentoring a colleague or guiding a startup toward market entry, Kennedy encourages patience and strategic planning.
“The government is a tough market,” he said. “It’s not a place for instant gratification. At the end of the day, you want to make your company easy to do business with — and if you have great products and real credibility, your customers will become your strongest advocates.”