Kenneth J. Johns, a Senior Level executive, is the Technology Integration Adviser, Q Group, Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va. ISR Innovations is the principal Headquarters staff element with responsibilities for all Air Force unmanned aerial systems issues, and for evaluation, development, and oversight of advanced technologies and processes in direct support of combat and peacetime operations. The directorate orchestrates rapid prototyping and quick response deployments of off-the-shelf imagery and geospatial capabilities, targeting support and visualization applications, and UAS enhancements, to meet priority operational needs.
Mr. Johns retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 2003 after 22 years of service. He earned his commission in 1981 through the ROTC program at the University of Colorado at Boulder. A career intelligence officer, he has served in a variety of operational and staff positions in arms control, computer modeling and simulation, current intelligence and direct technology support to combat operations.
EDUCATION
1981 Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations, University of Colorado-Boulder
1987 Squadron Officer School
1990 Master of Arts degree in national security affairs (Russia), Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
1991 Russian Language, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Monterey, Calif.
1992 Joint Doctrine Air Campaign Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1994 Distinguished graduate, Air Command and Staff College. Maxwell AFB, Ala. 1994 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. 1981 - 1982, student, Intelligence Technical Training School, Lowry AFB, Colo.
2. 1982 - 1985, foreign liaison desk officer, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
3. 1985 - 1986, current intelligence analyst and Chief, Presentations, 6th Tactical Intelligence Group, Osan Air Base, South Korea
4. 1986 -1989, Chief, Operational Intelligence; Chief, Academic Intelligence; then Director of Wing Intelligence, 355th Tactical Training Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
5. 1989 - 1990, student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
6. 1990 - 1991, student, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Monterey, Calif.
7. 1991 - 1993, Chief, Opposing Air Forces; then Chief, Opposing Forces, Warrior Preparation Center, Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany.
8. 1993 - 1994, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
9. 1994 - 1994, student, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
10. 1994 - 1995, member, Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty Negotiating Team (Defense Intelligence Agency), Geneva, Switzerland
11. 1995 - 1996, Chief, United Nations Intelligence Support, Director of Intelligence, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. 1996 - 1998, special assistant for Crisis Management, Director of Intelligence (J2), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
13. 1998 - 2001, Deputy Director, Simulation and Integration, Office of the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
14. 2002 - 2007, Deputy Director, Quick Reaction Combat Support (later renamed Air Force Combat Support Office), Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
15. 2007 - 2008, Technology Integration Adviser, Air Force Combat Support Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air, Space and Information Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
16. 2008 - 2012, Technology Integration Adviser, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Innovations Directorate, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
17. 2012 –2013, Technology Integration Adviser, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Interoperability, Deputy Chief of Staff for ISR, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
18. 2013 - 2017, Technology Integration Adviser, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Innovation, Deputy Chief of Staff for ISR, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
19. 2017 -2019, Technology Integration Adviser, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Modernization and Infrastructure, Deputy Chief of Staff for ISR, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va.
20. 2019 - present, Technology Integration Adviser, Q Group, Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va.
AWARDS AND HONORS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
(Current as of February 2017)