Captain Stephen J. Johnson, a native of Rosemount, Minnesota, graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology with a Mechanical Engineering Degree in 1979. Captain Johnson received his commission through the NROTC Program and served his first three tours in the Submarine Force. These tours included Division Officer assignments onboard USS PLUNGER (SSN 595) from 1981 to 1984, a Department Head tour as Radiological Controls Officer onboard USS McKEE (AS 41) from 1984 to 1986, and an assignment in the Submarine Warfare Operations Research Department of the Office of Naval Intelligence until 1988.
Captain Johnson served as Operations Officer onboard USS REUBEN JAMES (FFG 57) from 1989 until 1991. His next assignment was Main Propulsion Assistant onboard USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71). Captain Johnson served as Executive Officer of USS VANDEGRIFT (FFG 48) from 1994 to 1995. He then served as Chief, Sea Forces at the Office of Military Cooperation in Cairo, Egypt until 1997.
Captain Johnson commanded USS DEYO (DD 989) from April 1998 until October 1999. He led DEYO through a Mediterranean deployment that included duties as the first U.S. Flagship for NATO’s Standing Naval Force Mediterranean and participation in Operation Determined Forge during the Kosovo crisis.
Captain Johnson graduated from the Naval War College in November 2000 with highest distinction and received the President’s Award for the College of Naval Warfare Honor Graduate. He was then assigned as the Tomahawk Section Head of the Chief of Naval Operations Surface Warfare Directorate from 2000 until 2002.
Captain Johnson commanded USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG 58) from 2003 to 2005. He led PHILIPPINE SEA through an Arabian Gulf wartime deployment, participating in combat action in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Captain Johnson then served as Chief of Staff of Carrier Strike Group Six; the John F. Kennedy Strike Group. His most recent assignment was a one year deployment to Djibouti as Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. Captain Johnson took command of NROTC Unit Miami University in July 2007.
Captain Johnson’s awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (two awards), and various service and campaign awards.
