BRIGADIER GENERAL KENNETH R. JOHNSON

Brigadier General Kenneth R. Johnson is deputy chief of staff, product assurance and acquisition logistics, Headquarters Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.  

General Johnson was born in 1935, in Mount Vernon Ill., where he graduated from high school in 1953. He received a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska in 1971, and a master of science degree in management from the University of Arkansas in 1975. General Johnson attended professional military education courses at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., graduating from Squadron Officer School in 1961 and the Air War College in 1976.

The general enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January 1955 and was commissioned a second lieutenant through the aviation cadet program in May 1957. After completing primary and basic pilot training at Hondo and Bryan Air Force bases, Texas, General Johnson attended F-86F and F-100A combat crew training schools from June to December 1957, at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. In January 1958 he was assigned to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, as an F-100 pilot and squadron maintenance officer.

He transferred to Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., in July 1960 as a quality control and F-100 flight test pilot, and in July 1961 General Johnson was named supervisor of the Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. In September 1962 he was assigned to the faculty of the Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course at Chanute Air Force Base, Ill.

In December 1964 General Johnson served as staff maintenance officer at Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. From February to August 1966, he attended an F-100 combat crew training course at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. After receiving forward air controller training at Hurlburt Field, Fla., in September 1966, he transferred to Phuoc Vinh Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, as a forward air controller with the U.S. Army's 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. From April to September 1967, General Johnson flew F-100s and was the squadron maintenance officer at Bien Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam.

Upon his return to the United States in September 1967, he was assigned to Nellis Air Force Base as an F-111 pilot, materiel officer and assistant operations officer. He moved to Royal Air Force Station Upper Heyford, England, in December 1971, as supervisor of the F-111 Organizational Maintenance Squadron. One year later he became the squadron's commander.

Following his graduation from the Air War College in June 1976, General Johnson was assigned to the Sacramento Air Logistics Center, McClellan Air Force Base, Calif., as the F-111 systems manager and director, Aircraft Systems Management Division. From May 1978 to November 1981, he was assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, as deputy for aeronautical and armament programs, Air Force Acquisitions Logistics Division; F-15 system program director, and assistant deputy for tactical systems, Aeronautical Systems Division. General Johnson then moved to Arnold Air Force Station, Tenn., where he served as commander of the Arnold Engineering Development Center. He assumed his present duties in September 1983.

The general is a command pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours including 621 combat hours and 391 combat missions. He has flown T-28s, T-29s, T-33s, T-34s, F-86F's, F-100s, F-111s, 0-1s, UH-1s and C-123s. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 15 oak leaf clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.

He was promoted to brigadier general Nov. 1, 1982, with date of rank Oct. 1, 1982.

(Current as of February 1984)