Rear Admiral Arthur Johnson graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Security Affairs. He earned his naval aviator wings of gold in February 1981.

He has served in command and various staff positions in Hawaii, California, Keflavik, Iceland, Guam, Japan and the Pentagon. He has deployed extensively throughout the Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean, and Pacific regions. Afloat, he served as operations officer, administrative assistant, as well as sea and anchor detail officer of the deck onboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), where he earned Third Fleet’s Shiphandler of the Year honors for 1990.

In June 1994, he graduated with a master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government where his studies focused on U.S. Business and Government Relationships and Third World Politics. He is also a member of the Millennium Class at the National War College in Washington, D.C. and was awarded a master’s degree in National Strategic Studies in June 2000.

Johnson has completed command tours at Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, where he commanded the “Golden Swordsmen” of Patrol Squadron 47, and at Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, as commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 5. He also served as the assistant deputy director for Politico-Military Affairs-Asia in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate of the Joint Staff.

Johnson’s first flag assignment was as commander, United States Naval Forces Marianas, and U.S. Pacific Command Representative Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau. Following that assignment, he commanded Patrol and Reconnaissance Forces 5th Fleet, Patrol and Reconnaissance Forces 7th Fleet and Fleet Air Western Pacific. Johnson served as commander, Naval Safety Center from 2007 to 2011. He reported as director, Assessment Division OPNAV N81 in July 2011.