Army medical leader promotes to colonel

USAG-YONGSAN, Korea -- Army physician Col. (Dr.) Jeremy D. Johnson, was promoted to the rank of colonel May 24 at Naija Ballroom, Dragon Hill Lodge. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, commander of United States Forces Korea, United Nations Command and ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, hosted the promotion ceremony.

Johnson has been serving as the deputy commander for medical services at the 121st Combat Support Hospital/Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital since July 2016. Johnson said his promotion to colonel in the U.S. Army wouldn't have been possible without God's blessings in his life and the enduring support from his family, leaders and the extraordinary Soldiers he's served with. He gave special thanks to Col. Kelly Murray for selecting him for his current position and to Col. Erica Clarkson, hospital commander, for her leadership and mentorship.

As Brooks was promoting Johnson to colonel, he praised Johnson, his accomplishments and his dedicated service in completing the medical mission on the Korean peninsula. He recognized the tremendous support of Johnson's family as well. Brooks individually spoke to Johnson's three daughters, thanking them for supporting their father.

During his speech, Johnson said he picked the day of his promotion to be the same date of his 21st wedding anniversary. He emphasized that without the sacrifice and selfless love of his spouse, Jennifer Johnson, he "couldn't be standing where he is right now."

He also said his resilience and his success is directly tied to the wonderful support of his wife and family throughout his service in the Army.

More than 200 people attended the ceremony to congratulate the brand new colonel on his promotion and also to bid farewell to Johnson as he prepares for an upcoming assignment as the command surgeon for United States Army-Alaska.

A native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Johnson started his journey in the Army by attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he lettered in men's basketball, served as a battalion commander and graduated with honors in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and life science. He then attended the Uniformed Services University Of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, where he graduated with a medical degree in 2000. He completed his family medicine residency at Fort Belvoir Army Community Hospital, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he served as the chief resident. He was selected for clinic command at Coleman Barracks, Germany, where he commanded for 30 months prior to attending the Captain's Career Course. He completed a two-year fellowship in faculty development at Madigan Army Medical Center from 2006 to 2008 where he also obtained a master's degree in public health degree from the University of Washington, Seattle. He then moved to Hawaii where he served for three years as associate residency director, three years as residency director, and ten months as acting department chief. While in Hawaii he deployed to Iraq as a battalion surgeon. Prior to his current assignment, he most recently graduated with honors from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Johnson's military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (3OLC), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (5OLC), the Meritorious Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal (2), the Army Service Ribbon, the overseas service ribbon (4), the Korean Defense Service Medal, and the Expert Field Medical Badge. He is a recipient of the Surgeon General's "A" proficiency designator and a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit.

He is married to a former U.S. Army Medical Service Corps Officer Jennifer Johnson. Together they have three daughters.