BRIGADIER GENERAL ARTHUR E. JOHNSON

Brigadier General Arthur E. Johnson is assistant deputy director of defense research and engineering, strategic and theater nuclear forces, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.

General Johnson was born in 1942, in Muncie, Ind., and graduated from Muncie Central High School in 1960. He received a bachelor of science degree in English from Ball State University in 1964 and a master of science degree in political science from Auburn University in 1974. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1968, and was a distinguished graduate of Air Command and Staff College in 1974. He also completed National War College and an assignment as a senior research fellow at the National Defense University in 1980. The general was named a distinguished alumnus of Ball State University in 1982 and attended the Senior Executive Management Program at Columbia University in 1987.

He received his commission as a distinguished military graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Ball State. In August 1964 he was assigned to the 92nd Strategic Aerospace Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., where he served as an administrative officer and squadron section commander. In May 1966 he was assigned to the 351st Strategic Missile Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., as a Minuteman missile crew member, wing senior standardization and evaluation deputy, and alternate missile combat crew commander.

After completing Squadron Officer School in December 1968, General Johnson was assigned as chief of the Data Analysis Branch and, later, chief of the Re-entry Systems Evaluation Branch in Ballistic Missile Evaluation at Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The general was a specialist in the analysis and evaluation of intercontinental ballistic missile penetration aid performance characteristics.

He completed missile maintenance officer training in April 1972 and was assigned to the 90th Strategic Missile Wing at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. There he served as officer in charge of the Field Maintenance Branch, and the Maintenance Plans, Scheduling and Documentation Branch during the conversion of Minuteman I to III. Upon graduation from the Air Command and Staff College in June 1974, General Johnson transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., as a missile operations staff action officer in the Strategic Division, Directorate of Operations.

In June 1976 he became a Strategic Arms Limitation Talks action officer at Air Force headquarters, Directorate of Plans. General Johnson was assigned as a strategic policy planner and senior military adviser to the U.S. SALT delegation, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C., and Geneva, Switzerland, in December 1976.

After graduating from National War College in June 1980, he was assigned to the 91st Strategic Missile Wing, Minot Air Force Base, N.D., as assistant deputy commander for operations. In December 1980 he assumed command of the 91st Combat Support Group.

General Johnson returned to Air Force headquarters in July 1982 as chief of the Arms Control and International Negotiations Division, Directorate of Plans. In June 1983 he became the deputy assistant director for Joint and National Security Council matters. In that role, he served as the Air Force joint planner for nuclear policy issues, arms control and the Middle East. In July 1984 General Johnson was assigned as the executive officer to the Air Force vice chief of staff, and in July 1985 he became vice commander of the 351st Strategic Missile Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base.

In February 1986 General Johnson assumed command of the 44th Strategic Missile Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. He left Ellsworth in July 1987 to become deputy director for resources, Directorate of Programs and Evaluation, Air Force headquarters, where his responsibilities included preparation of the Air Force's five-year program. In July 1988 he became the Joint Chiefs of Staff representative to the Defense and Space Talks with the Soviet Union in Geneva, Switzerland. He assumed his present position in October 1990.

The general's military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, and National Defense Service Medal. He also wears the Master Missile Operations Badge.

He was promoted to brigadier general July 1, 1988, with same date of rank.

(Current as of November 1990)