Jay L. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Admiral Jay L. Johnson, USN, (born June 5, 1946) is a retired United States Navy officer who served from 1996-2000 as 26th Chief of Naval Operations
(CNO). He succeeded to the position following the death of Admiral Jeremy M. Boorda
. Johnson is an Eagle Scout
and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
.
, and raised in West Salem, Wisconsin
. He graduated in 1968 from the United States Naval Academy
. Upon completion of flight training, he was designated a Naval Aviator
in 1969.
with Fighter Squadron 191 (VF-191
). Subsequent squadron and sea duty tours after transitioning to the F-14 Tomcat
included: VF-142
, VF-101
, Commanding Officer of VF-84
; Commander, Carrier Air Wing
ONE and Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations for Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet.
Shore duty assignments included: Aviation Junior Officer Detailer and Head, Aviation Officer Junior Assignment Branch at the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) in Washington, DC; Student, Armed Forces Staff College, in Norfolk, VA; and the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) Strategic Studies Group at The Pentagon
.
His first Flag Officer
assignment was as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Distribution in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. In October 1992, he reported as Commander, Carrier Group Eight/Commander, Battle Group
. In July 1994, he was assigned as Commander, Second Fleet/Commander, Striking Fleet Atlantic/Commander, Joint Task Force 120.
In March 1996, he reported for duty as the 28th Vice Chief of Naval Operations
in Washington, D.C.
In August 1996, Admiral Johnson became the 26th Chief of Naval Operations
, and served until July 21, 2000.
, Inc., from December 2002 to September 2008, also serving as Senior Vice President of Dominion Energy, Inc., from 2000 to 2002; President and Chief Executive Officer of Dominion Delivery from 2002 to 2007; and Chief Executive Officer of Dominion Virginia Power from October 2007 to September 2008.
Johnson has been a director of General Dynamics
, one of the largest U.S. defense contractor
s, since 2003. He served as Vice Chairman from September 2008 to July 2009, and since then as President and Chief Executive Officer
on the retirement of Nicholas Chabraja
.
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
(CNO). He succeeded to the position following the death of Admiral Jeremy M. Boorda
Jeremy Michael Boorda
Jeremy Michael Boorda was an admiral of the United States Navy and the 25th Chief of Naval Operations . Boorda is the only CNO to have risen to the position from the enlisted ranks.-Early life and education :...
. Johnson is an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America . It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years after attaining the level of Eagle Scout...
.
Early life
Johnson was born in Great Falls, MontanaGreat Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
, and raised in West Salem, Wisconsin
West Salem, Wisconsin
West Salem is a village in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States, along the La Crosse River. It is part of the La Crosse Metropolitan Area. The population was 4,799 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. He graduated in 1968 from the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. Upon completion of flight training, he was designated a Naval Aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
in 1969.
Military service
His first sea-duty tour was aboard the carrier , where he made two combat cruises flying the F-8J CrusaderF-8 Crusader
The Vought F-8 Crusader was a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass...
with Fighter Squadron 191 (VF-191
VF-191
VF-191 or Fighter Squadron 191 of the United States Navy was established in 1943 and disestablished in 1978. A second squadron, bearing the same designation was established for a short time again between 1986 and 1988.-History:...
). Subsequent squadron and sea duty tours after transitioning to the F-14 Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...
included: VF-142
VF-142
VF-142 Ghostriders was a US Navy fighter squadron established on 24 August 1948 as VF-193. It was renamed VF-142 on 15 October 1963, and disestablished on 30 April 1995.-Late 1940s to the 1970s:...
, VF-101
VF-101
Fighter Squadron 101, also known as VF-101 and the Grim Reapers, was a United States Navy F-14 Fleet Replacement Squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceana until disestablishment in 2005...
, Commanding Officer of VF-84
VF-84
VF-84, Fighter Squadron 84 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy active from 1955 to 1995. The squadron was nicknamed the Jolly Rogers and was based at NAS Oceana.-Related squadrons:Five distinct U.S...
; Commander, Carrier Air Wing
Carrier air wing
A Carrier Air Wing is an operational naval aviation organization composed of several aircraft squadrons and detachments of various types of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft...
ONE and Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations for Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet.
Shore duty assignments included: Aviation Junior Officer Detailer and Head, Aviation Officer Junior Assignment Branch at the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) in Washington, DC; Student, Armed Forces Staff College, in Norfolk, VA; and the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) Strategic Studies Group at The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
.
His first Flag Officer
Flag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
assignment was as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Distribution in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. In October 1992, he reported as Commander, Carrier Group Eight/Commander, Battle Group
Carrier battle group
A carrier battle group consists of an aircraft carrier and its escorts, together composing the group. The first naval task forces built around carriers appeared just prior to and during World War II. The Imperial Japanese Navy was the first to assemble a large number of carriers into a single...
. In July 1994, he was assigned as Commander, Second Fleet/Commander, Striking Fleet Atlantic/Commander, Joint Task Force 120.
In March 1996, he reported for duty as the 28th Vice Chief of Naval Operations
Vice Chief of Naval Operations
The Vice Chief of Naval Operations is the second highest ranking officer in the United States Navy. In the event that the Chief of Naval Operations is absent or is unable to perform his duties, the VCNO assumes the duties and responsibilities of the CNO. The VCNO may also perform other duties...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In August 1996, Admiral Johnson became the 26th Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
, and served until July 21, 2000.
Later career
Johnson was Executive Vice President of Dominion ResourcesDominion Resources
Dominion Resources Inc. , commonly referred to as Dominion, is a power and energy company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia that supplies electricity in parts of Virginia and North Carolina and supplies natural gas to parts of West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and eastern North Carolina...
, Inc., from December 2002 to September 2008, also serving as Senior Vice President of Dominion Energy, Inc., from 2000 to 2002; President and Chief Executive Officer of Dominion Delivery from 2002 to 2007; and Chief Executive Officer of Dominion Virginia Power from October 2007 to September 2008.
Johnson has been a director of General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
, one of the largest U.S. defense contractor
Defense contractor
A defense contractor is a business organization or individual that provides products or services to a military department of a government. Products typically include military aircraft, ships, vehicles, weaponry, and electronic systems...
s, since 2003. He served as Vice Chairman from September 2008 to July 2009, and since then as President and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
on the retirement of Nicholas Chabraja
Nicholas Chabraja
Nicholas D. Chabraja was the Chief Executive Officer of General Dynamics Corporation He attended Northwestern University where he graduated with Bachelor of Arts and law degrees...
.