MARINE CORPS LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHNNY DEAN RESTIVO (RETIRED) was born July 16, 1944 in Oakwood, Texas. He grew-up in Bryan, TX where he graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1962 and received an Associate of Arts Degree from the Allen Military Academy in 1964. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics from Texas A&M University in 1966 and a Master of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School (NPGS) at Monterey, CA in 198. LTCOL RESTIVO also graduated as an Engineering Flight Test Pilot from the Naval Test Pilot School (NTPS) at Patuxent River, MD in 1972.
LTCOL RESTIVO entered the Marine Corps PLC(A) Program March 10, 1964; was commissioned a 2ndLT March 27, 1967; and was designated a Naval Aviator June 02, 1968. He trained in CH-53A Helicopters with HMH-461 June-September 1968 - New River, NC and then was assigned to CH-46As with HMM-265 October 1968-May 1969 - Phu Bai, Viet Nam. He also served as a Marine Division Air Officer and Ground Forward Air Controller (FAC) with the 2 Army of the Republic of Viet Nam (ARVN) May-October 1969 — Dong Ha, Viet Narn.
L.TCOL RESTIVO flew 345 combat missions. He was awarded the Single Mission Air Medal(w/Bronze Star); 18 Strike Air Medals; the Combat Action Ribbon; Meritorious Unit and NavyUnit Commendations; Viet Nam Service and Campaign (w/4 Stars) Medals; and Viet NamMeritorious Unit Commendation (w/Palm) and Cross of Gallantry.
LTCOL RESTIVO returned to C1-T-53As with HMH-363 and T-llV1H-36i October 1969-May 19.71 - Santa Ana, CA and was promoted to CAPT May 19.71. He graduated from NTPS and flew test projects on more than 30 different fixed and rotary winged carrier based aircraft July 1971-September 1973 - Patuxent River, MD. He completed TA-4J Jet Transition and was assigned A-6E Intruder Tactical Jets with \TMA(AW)224 October 1973-July 1976 - Cherry Point, NC. He was promoted to Major September 197,7 and graduated from the NPGS in June 1978. LTCOL RESTTVO was assigned as Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer of H&MS- 15 September 1978-August 1979 -- Iwakuni, Japan.
LTCOL RESTIVO served as Laser Maverick, Sidearm and Hellfire Precision Guided MissilesProgram Manager with the Air Force and Naval Air Systems Commands August 1979 - April1987 Dayton, OH and Washington DC. He was promoted to LTCOL October 1982 and retiredfrom active duty April 30, 1987.
LTCOL RESTIVO founded United Dynamics, Tnc. in 1989; a consultant firm that provides technical and management consulting services to weapon systems support contractors in the Washington DC area. He also, flew B-727s for Eastern Airlines; was a Flight Engineer Check Pilot; and remains current in general aviation. He has been married for 37 years to the former Lena Fazzino of Bryan, TX; has two sons, Dean and Marco, and one grandson, Derek. He is a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and USMC/Vietnam Helicopter Association; is an Eagle Scout Advisor (both sons are Eagles); and is active with the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Church outreach programs.