Commander Eric Johnson

CDR Johnson enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1987 and attended Radioman ‘A’ school in 1988. He served as a Radioman and Diver aboard CGCs POLAR SEA and BASSWOOD, instructed at TRACEN Petaluma, CA and served as the Communications Center Chief at GANTSEC, San Juan before being selected to attend the University of New Hampshire under the Pre-Commissioning Program for Enlisted Personnel. CDR Johnson was commissioned in 2000 and has served as a Deck Watch Officer and Operations Officer aboard CGC JARVIS, Commanding Officer of CGC GALVESTON ISLAND and Executive Officer of CGC RELIANCE.

CDR Johnson’s staff tours include First District Command Center in Boston, MA, Commanding Officer of the Southeast Regional Fisheries Training Center, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, where he served in the Joint Action Control Office in Defense Operations (CG-ODO-1) and most recently as the Deputy Chief of Enforcement for the First Coast Guard District in Boston, MA.

CDR Johnson possesses a Bachelor’s of Arts (Summa Cum Laude) in Russian Language and Literature from the University of New Hampshire, an MBA in Global Management, a Master’s of Military Arts and Science (Strategist Track) from the Army Command and Staff College in Leavenworth, KS and a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration. His doctoral dissertation researched the impact of maritime governance policies on maritime piracy and he was invited to present at the University of Hawaii’s Center for Philippines Studies in 2006. He has been published numerous times in peer-reviewed and professional journals as well as contributing to a college textbook. He is a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha national honor society for Public Affairs and Administration and was third president of the Military Strategists’ Association from 2015-17.

CDR Johnson has been a permanent cutterman since 1994 and a member of the Chief Petty Officer’s Association since 1997.

CDR Johnson is from Leeton, Missouri (pop. 555) and is married to the former Maila Briones Payabyab of Mexico, Pampanga, Republic of the Philippines. They are paying for three children to attend college.

Commander's Philosophy