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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Sponsor

Honored by:
Mr. Thomas A. Hopkins

JOHN E. JOHNSON March 30, 1932 - September 28, 2002
John E. Johnson, aka: JohnnyQ45, was a true pioneer and icon to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). John E. Johnson devoted nearly 30 years to the mission of the administration and is proudly recognized as the first Afro-American Sector Manager for the Oklahoma City Airway Facilities Sector as well as one of the first Afro-American Sector Managers within the FAA.
John was born in Dayton, Ohio to Emma Johnson Boone and the late John E. Johnson, Sr. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1952 serving 4 years as an Auto/Track Radar Repairman. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology and Chemistry from the University of Kansas City in 1960. He later continued his education in 1975 by attending Oklahoma City University receiving his Juris Doctorate in law. While at FAA he completed numerous technical and managerial training courses. John E. Johnson was a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
John began his career with the FAA in Kansas City, Missouri as an Electronic Technician-Radar in 1958 where he received his initial training on radar systems. He received his technical training at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi repairing primarily MSQ-1/2 equipment. John served in Korea where equipment was used for close bombing support and in the states for radar bomb scoring. In 1958 he received his initial assignment in Kansas City, Missouri with FAA; primarily occupied with becoming trained on radar systems and obtaining the proficiency of a journeyman technician. In 1960 he relocated to Anchorage, Alaska serving as a regional Relief Electronic Technician. He soon acquired thereafter a dual position as Assistant Sector Chief / Maintenance Liaison Officer. His role was primarily in a Combine Center/Radar Approach Control with 24-hour coverage coordinating all of the facility shutdowns for the entire Anchorage Center En Route Area. From 1967 to 1972 he continued his career serving as Airway Facilities Sector Chief in Michigan then later as Assistant Airway Facilities Sector Manager in Chicago, Illinois. In 1972 he advanced to serve as Sector Manager for the Oklahoma City Airway Facilities Sector which included the entire state of Oklahoma and a portion of Texas. He provided direction to a workforce of over 130 people being responsible for the maintenance of all ground and air/ground systems, which constitute the Air Traffic Control System in that area.
John completed a distinguished, illustrious 29-year career from FAA in 1983. He soon thereafter entered the private sector pursuing a law career and as a Program Manager with FAA contractors. John's motto was "I'm only a phone call away". As a leader, mentor and a friend; John was honest, opinionated and fair yet always firm. His generosity, support and leadership is sorely missed but not forgotten. John's legacy is with the many supervisors and managers he successfully helped navigate the organizational culture of the FAA.