Melissa A. Johnson, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Acquisition Executive, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Ms. Johnson serves as the principal advisor to the Commander, United States Special Operations Command for Special Operations Research and Development, test, production, fielding, and sustainment of SOF-peculiar programs across aviation, space, cyber, maritime, ground, weapons, and communication systems.
Ms. Johnson graduated from the University of Florida in 1995 and received her commission from the United States Air Force Officer Training School in March 1996. Throughout her 24 years on active duty, Ms. Johnson served in a variety of assignments and leadership roles ranging from Program Manager for a highly classified strategic combat system directed by the Deputy Secretary of Defense, to other significant leadership roles such the Director for non-standard Aircraft Systems and Materiel Leader for Strategic Combat Systems, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. For her final assignment, she served as the Program Executive Officer for Fixed Wing Programs, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command.
Prior to her position as the Acquisition Executive, Ms. Johnson served as the Deputy Director and Acting Director for the Department of the Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office. She oversaw selected study, development, and fielding activities tasked directly by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Secretary of the Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff, the Chief of Space Operations, the Assistant Secretary for the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration. She delivered capabilities at the speed of emerging threats for combat Air and Space Forces and Combatant Command requirements, leveraging streamlined acquisition methods to developing, acquiring, and fielding of critical capabilities. Current programs under the purview of the organization include the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, a reusable, unmanned space test platform for the U.S. Space Force, and the B-21 Raider, a long-range strike bomber for the U.S. Air Force.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville
1998 Master of Science in Engineering Management, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Air Force Legislative Fellow, Air University, Washington, D.C.
2013 Air War College Non-Resident Program, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Blue Horizons Fellowship, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. March 1996–August 1997, Aerodynamic Propulsion Analyst, National Air Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2. August 1997–March 1998, Special Projects Engineer, 28th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
3. March 1998–September 2000, Special Projects Program Manager, 28th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
4. October 2000–January 2002, Engineering Test Director, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
5. January 2002–June 2003, High Power Microwave Applications Program Manager, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
6. June 2003–June 2004, Chief, Asymmetric Capabilities Development Branch, Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters of the Air Force, Arlington, Va.
7. June 2004–June 2005, Executive Officer, Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters of the Air Force, Arlington, Va.
8. June 2005–July 2007, Chief, Offensive Capabilities Branch, Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters of the Air Force, Arlington, Va.
9. August 2007–January 2009, Air Force Legislative Fellow, Air University, Washington, D.C.
10. January 2009–August 2011, Director, Non-Standard Aircraft Systems, Program Executive Office for Fixed Wing Aircraft, Center for Special Operations Acquisitions and Logistics, Headquarters, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
11. August 2011–July 2015, Materiel Leader, Strategic Combat Systems, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
12. July 2015–July 2016, Blue Horizons Fellow, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. August 2016–May 2017, Chief, Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent Integration, Intercontinental Ballistics Systems Division, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill AFB, Utah
14. June 2017–July 2020, Program Executive Officer, Fixed Wing, Special Operations Forces, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Headquarters, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
15. October 2020–October 2023, Deputy Director, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
16. October 2023-present, Acquisition Executive, Special Operations Forces Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
AWARDS AND HONORS
Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Force Commendation Medal
Air and Space Force Achievement Medal
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Program Management, Level III, Acquisition Professional Development Program
Test and Evaluation, Level II APDP
Systems Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering, Level II, APDP
(Current as of February 2025)