Allied Forces Chief Commander to Speak at UMaine
Contact: Peter Fandel, 581-1988; George Manlove, 581-3756
ORONO — U.S. Navy Admiral Gregory G. Johnson, retired commander in chief of Allied Forces, Southern Europe, and commander of U.S. Forces, Europe, will be at the University of Maine on Nov. 27 for a luncheon lecture on “Lessons of Bosnia and Other Conflicts.”
Johnson will speak from 12-1:15 p.m. in the McIntire Room of Buchanan Alumni House. His appearance is sponsored by the William S. Cohen Center for International Policy & Commerce. The event is free and open to anyone with a reservation. Reservations can be made by calling the Cohen Center at 581-1988 or emailing Peter Fandel at peter.fandel@umit.maine.edu or Rebecca Sedgwick at rebecca.sedgwick@umit.maine.edu.
Gregory Johnson is a native of the small northern Maine community of Westmanland and alum of the University of Maine, where he earned a B.A. in political science in the late 1960s. He became a commissioned officer after graduating from Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1969 and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1970.
His initial sea duty assignments included flying an A-7E Corsair II and deploying with the USS Independence. Subsequent squadron and sea duty assignments included serving aboard the USS Nimitz, serving as executive officer and commanding officer of the Marine Air Group Twelve and USS Forrestal, as deputy commander of the Carrier Air Wing Six (USS Forrestal), and commander of Carrier Air Wing Three on the USS Eisenhower.
Shore duty assignments have included serving with the Joint Chiefs of Staff as head of the European Command and Central Command Branch of the Joint Operations Division.
Admiral Johnson was selected for flag rank in February 1995. His initial flag assignment was as the Director of Operations, Plans and Policy on the staff of the Commander in Chief’s U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
In 1996, he served as commander of the Carrier Group Eight on the USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group. As commander, he served as the principal advisor to type commanders in all matters concerning the operational support and employment of assigned forces. In 1999, he became the senior military assistant to Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen.
Admiral Johnson’s previous assignments included commanding the U.S. Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces, Southern Europe. Johnson assumed duties as commander of U.S. Naval Forces, Europe, and commander in chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe in 2001.
His decorations and awards include: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaves; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit with two gold stars; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars; Air Medal; Navy Commendation Medal; Navy Achievement Medal; and various service and campaign awards.