REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command officially welcomed the Future Warfare Center's new director during an Assumption of Responsibility April 8 at the Von Braun III auditorium.
James B. Johnson Jr., the second director of the FWC, is replacing Laurence H. Burger, who retired from federal civilian service Jan. 7.
"James was selected from a field of highly accomplished applicants in a very, very competitive process," said Lt. Gen. David L. Mann, USASMDC/ARSTRAT commanding general. "All of his previous experiences will serve him well as the director of the Future Warfare Center, an organization whose sole purpose is to enhance our ability to fight and win our nation's wars, especially in space and missile defense domains.
"There are, and will continue to be, many challenges," he added. "The demand for our space capabilities continues to grow, both at the Army and at the joint level. Meaning, the FWC's (demand) will also continue to grow. The bottom line is James Johnson is the right person to tackle these and many other unforeseen challenges that lie ahead."
FWC identifies, develops and rapidly transitions concepts and innovations that enhance Army and joint warfighting capabilities as the Army integrator and proponent for space and missile defense mission areas.
FWC has operations in Huntsville; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Fort Monroe, Virginia. FWC designs, develops and evaluates innovative concepts and capabilities falling within the U.S. Strategic Command's mission areas.
FWC integrates these concepts and capabilities into joint and Army architectures; validates science and technology priorities; leads experimentation, synchronization and integration of SMDC mission area capabilities with joint, interagency, and multinational capabilities; and serves as the SMDC lead for space and ground-based midcourse defense proponency.
"My beautiful wife and daughter are here with us today," Johnson said. "Sharon and I have been married for 27 years. She always supports me when things are going great and she supports me even more when things aren't going great. She had a very distinguished career as a Department of the Army civilian, but a little over 11 years ago she answered a higher calling as a stay-at-home mom and raise our daughter. I will never be able to thank her enough for that.
"Our baby Faith is here with us today," he added. "She gets mad when I call her a baby, since she is 11 now. It sure seems like yesterday that she was born. I could not be more proud of both of them."
In his new position, Johnson will outline general program policy to support the Future Warfare Center's primary role in bringing space and missile defense capabilities and concepts to the Warfighter. Included in the FWC are the Space and Missile Defense Battle Lab, the Directorate for Combat Development, and the Simulations and Analysis Directorate.
"I want to start again by thanking Lt. Gen. Mann for selecting me to be the director of the Future Warfare Center," Johnson said. "It is an awesome responsibility but I am up to the task. I will not let you down. You are going to get my very best effort.
"I want to recognize Mr. Larry Burger," he added. "He sat in the seat I am now occupying for many years. He helped define the standard of excellence that the Future Warfare Center embodies today. He certainly set the organization up for success."
Johnson took a moment and thanked all those in attendance. He also had a message for his new FWC team and the Soldiers, civilians and family members of SMDC.
"Now to the Soldiers, DA civilians and contractors who make up the Future Warfare Center," Johnson said. "I want to thank you for welcoming me and my family with open arms. Some of you bent over backwards in the few weeks before I actually got over here to help me transition and I want to thank you for that. I have not met everyone yet, but I am working on it. I am very excited to be your director. I am very excited about our mission, and I am very excited about our future.
"I just want the team to know that I am so excited to be here and be their leader," he continued. "I have an empowerment style of management so I want them to know that I am not going to micromanage for them. I am going to give them the freedom to be innovative. I am looking forward to working with everybody, and I am excited about the mission, which is so important for missile defense, space, and high altitude. We are going to do everything we possibly can in our power to help Soldiers and joint Warfighters to make their job easier, to make them safer, to make them more effective and give them the decisive edge.
"I really appreciate everybody who helped put this event on, it was a first-class event," Johnson added. "Now I am ready to get to work."
Johnson was appointed to the Senior Executive Service Jan. 7, 2007. He served as the director of the Developmental Test Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., beginning July 15, 2008. On May 24, 2010, Johnson assumed responsibility as the executive director for the U.S. Army Test, Measurement, and Diagnostic Equipment Activity at Redstone Arsenal and served until March 23.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a master's degree in systems engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He also holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College. Johnson is a graduate of the Army Management Staff College and the Advanced Program Management Course.
Johnson's awards include the Superior Civilian Service Award; the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service; The Edward H. Gamble Award; the Association of the U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal Chapter 2015 Civilian of the Year; the Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center Extraordinary Performance Award; and has been awarded a U.S. patent.
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