Michelle D. Johnson

Michelle D. Johnson (born c. 1959) is a retired Lieutenant General in the United States Air Force and former Senior Vice President and Head of Referee Operations for the National Basketball Association.[1]

Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson
United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force photo, c. 2013
Bornc. 1959 (age 6162)
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1981–2017
RankLieutenant General
Commands heldSuperintendent, USAF Academy
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal

Johnson was the 19th superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, the first woman to lead a U.S. Department of Defense service academy. Her previous position was the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Intelligence, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Casteau, Belgium. She was formerly the Director, Strategy, Policy, Programs and Logistics, U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base. Johnson also served as the deputy director for information and cyberspace policy, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate at the Pentagon.

As an Air Force Academy cadet, Johnson was the first woman to serve as Cadet Wing Commander (senior ranking cadet), and starred on the women's basketball team, scoring over 1,700 points.[2][3] She was twice named an Academic All-American and was inducted into the Academic All-American Hall of Fame in 2007, making her the first woman from the Academy and one of only six graduates with that distinction. Also, she was selected as the Academy's first woman Rhodes Scholar in her First Class (senior) Year, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in operations research in 1981.

A transport and tanker pilot, Johnson was recognized as an Honorary Fellow of Brasenose College at Oxford in 2013, and received the 2014 American Legion Auxiliary Woman of the Year Award.[4] Johnson was awarded a star (#42) on The Flag for Hope on June 18, 2016 in recognition of her outstanding military service.[5][6]

Education and training

Military career

Johnson attended pilot training at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona from May 1983 to July 1984, and completed her three-month C-141 qualification training at Altus AFB, Oklahoma, in October of that year.

Her command assignments included the 9th Air Refueling Squadron, the 97th Operations Group and the 22d Air Refueling Wing. She commanded a deployed air refueling squadron in Operation Southern Watch and an air refueling wing in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. She has served as the Air Force aide to the President, and as an Assistant Professor of Political Science, instructor pilot, and Associate Air Officer Commanding at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

On August 12, 2013, Johnson assumed command as Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, the first woman to hold the position.[7] After 36 years of active duty, she retired from the Air Force in October 2017.[3]

A command pilot, Johnson has more than 3,600 flying hours in C-141, T-41, KC-10, C-17, C-5, KC-135, T-37, and T-38 aircraft.

NBA

Following her retirement from the Air Force in 2017, Johnson was appointed as senior vice president and head of referee operations for the National Basketball Association (NBA) on October 12. She assumed her new position on October 16 and stepped down two years later.[8] Her duties included overseeing the recruitment, training, development, and evaluation of NBA referees, as well as the NBA replay center.[1]

Promotion history

InsigniaRankDate
Lieutenant GeneralAug. 12, 2013
Major GeneralAug. 2, 2010
Brigadier GeneralJan. 2, 2007
ColonelMay 1, 1999
Lieutenant ColonelFeb. 1, 1995
MajorOct. 1, 1991
CaptainMay 27, 1985
First LieutenantMay 27, 1983
Second LieutenantMay 27, 1981

References

  1. "Retired Air Force Lieutenant General Michelle D. Johnson named NBA Senior Vice President and Head of Referee Operations". NBA. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  2. "Profile with Michelle Johnson". The Rhodes Project. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  3. Roeder, Tom (August 12, 2017). "Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, the Air Force Academy's first female boss, is leaving confident". Air Force Times. Associated Press. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  4. Baillie, Amber (2014-09-02). "Academy supt. honored as ALA Woman of the Year". United States Air Force Academy. Archived from the original on 2014-09-11. Retrieved 2014-09-09.
  5. "Lietenant General Michelle Johnson – Flag for Hope Star #42". Flag for Hope. 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  6. http://coloradosprings.com/saluting-the-flag-and-all-it-stands-for/article/1579636
  7. "First woman slated to lead Air Force Academy". USA Today. March 1, 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  8. "Michelle D. Johnson To Step Down As NBA Senior Vice President And Head Of Referee Operations". official.nba.com. September 27, 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
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