Biography - Eric D. Johnson

Lieutenant Johnson, a native of Missouri, joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1987. After completing recruit training, he was stationed in Kodiak, AK. He completed Radioman “A” School in 1988, and was stationed at Communications Station Boston, MA. During his enlisted career, he served aboard the cutters CAMPBELL, POLAR SEA, and BASSWOOD. He also served ashore as a Telecommunications Specialist “A” School instructor, and as the Radioman in Charge of Greater Antilles Section, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Maila, Holden, Hannah, Haloye and Eric Johnson.

After advancing to Chief Petty Officer, he was selected for the Pre-Commissioning Program for Enlisted Persons, and attended the University of New Hampshire, where he graduated with high honors, receiving his BA in Russian Language and Literature. Lieutenant Johnson also received the Malcolm and Virginia Smith Fellowship for Excellence in Language Study.

After completing Officer Candidate School in 2000, Lieutenant Johnson served ashore as a Command Center Controller at the First Coast Guard District in Boston, MA. He was responsible for the allocation of District resources for the prosecution of law enforcement, search and rescue, and marine safety cases. During his tour in Boston, he was nominated for Search and Rescue Controller of the Year. He also represented the Coast Guard as a Russian linguist during the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission’s annual meeting in 2001 in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka, Russia.

Lieutenant Johnson is reporting from USCGC JARVIS (WHEC-725), where he served as the Assistant Operations Officer. He was responsible for assisting in the planning and preparations for all patrols as well as training cycles. He also served as Operations Officer during a High Seas Driftnet Patrol aboard JARVIS in the summer of 2003. While stationed aboard JARVIS, Lieutenant Johnson was nominated for the David Jarvis Inspirational Leadership Award, the Excellence in Federal Government Military Officer of the Year Award, and as Hawaii’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

His military decorations include the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (two awards with ‘O’ operational devices), the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, The Commandant’s Letter of Commendation (with ‘O’ operational device), and both the Antarctic Service Medal (two awards) and Arctic Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal (two awards), among others.

Lieutenant Johnson also possesses a Master’s in Business Administration, with a specialty in Global Management. He has been published in several professional journals, including ‘Proceedings’, ‘Sea Power’, and ‘Pacific Fishing.’ Currently, Lieutenant Johnson is pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration, focused in Emergency Response Leadership and Coordination. He is married to the former Maila Briones Payabyab of Mexico, Pampanga, Republic of the Philippines. They have three beautiful children: Haloye (7), Hannah (5), and Holden (3).