Maj. Gen. Johnson returns to USTRANSCOM as Chief of Staff
I was fortunate to be involved as USTRANSCOM became a key player in the Global War on Terror, said Johnson of his previous assignment as USTRANSCOMs deputy director of Operations and Logistics from August 2001 to June 2004.
I was able to serve under three USTRANSCOM commanders, Johnson explained, I believe this service has given me a good basis in the capabilities and direction of USTRANSCOM and its components.
Johnson honed his experience in military logistics at the tip of the spear after leaving USTRANSCOM, deploying to Kuwait in June 2004 to become the director of U.S. Central Commands Deployment and Distribution Center at Camp Arifjan.
In August 2004, while still in Kuwait, Johnson assumed command of the 143rd Transportation Command (Forward) with forces in Kuwait and Iraq. He simultaneously held the job of the Combined Forces Land Component Commander director of Movement and Distribution.
Returning to the U.S., Johnson took command of the 99th Regional Readiness Command, Coraopolis, Pa., in August 2005, where he was promoted to Major General.
For Johnson, one of the most noticeable changes since his last tour is that USTRANSCOMs current commander, Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, is the first USTRANSCOM commander who isnt also commander of Air Mobility Command, the Air Force component command of USTRANSCOM, also located here. Johnson sees this as a positive change.
I am excited about the transformational direction and progress that has been made in the USTRANSCOM role as the Distribution Process Owner for the Department of Defense, Johnson said, adding, Of course the facilities here are top notch and have only improved.
Johnson sees the changes mandated by the most recent round of congressional base re-alignment and closure recommendations as among of his biggest challenges in his new position.
Certainly BRAC actions will be a great challenge to us all as we make some bold moves that are truly transformational, said Johnson, Our Army component, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, will be relocating here which will take a lot of work, and is in line with Gen. Schwartz's vision and direction for USTRANSCOM.
Johnson, an Army Reserve officer, was selected for the two-year active duty assignment as Chief of Staff as part of a Department of Defense program referred to as the Chairmans Ten designed to place Reserve Component Generals and Admirals in positions of strategic significance. Johnson is USTRANSCOMs second Chairmans Ten Chief of Staff, replacing fellow Army Reserve Soldier Maj. Gen. Carlos Butch Pair who occupied the post since June of 2000.
In more than 33 years of both active and reserve service, Johnson has served in a variety of command and staff positions, mostly in transportation assignments, especially within the 1188th Terminal Transportation Battalion, East Point, Ga., which he commanded from May 1994 to January 1996. The 1188th TTB is part of USTRANSCOMs Army component, SDDC.
A resident of Morrow, Ga., Johnson holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from Boston University. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Army Achievement Medal. He was also awarded the Senior Army Aviator Badge, and Excellence in Competition Badge (Bronze Pistol).
In his civilian employment, Johnson is a partner and director of purchasing and sourcing at Encompass Group, LLC, in McDonough, Ga. He remains a silent partner during this assignment.
Johnsons wife, Melanie, will be joining him here in the future, but will also spend time back in Georgia with their children and grandchildren. But she will still find time to spend as a military wife and partner, Johnson said, certainly my better half, here at Scott.
The Johnsons daughter, Dana, just gave birth to her second child, while Dana's husband, Army Capt. David Key, recently returned from a year-long deployment to Baghdad where he served with the 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Ga. The Johnsons son, Lucas, is a television director in Atlanta.
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