LtCol Richard Johnson currently serves as the Inspector Instructor, CLB-453, Buckley SFB, Aurora, Colorado.
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Johnson enlisted in the Marine Corps in December of 1997 as a private to become an avionics technician. He graduated boot camp in March of 1998 and graduated MCT in April of 1998. LtCol Johnson transferred to NAS Pensacola in June of 1998 and finished the first phase of his MOS training in October of 1998. After that he was transferred to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington to conduct follow-on MOS training to become a fully-qualified 6386, Electronic Countermeasures Technician specific to the EA-6B "Prowler." After concluding this training in February of 1998 he was assigned to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 (VMAQ-4) located at MCAS Cherry Point, NC. During this tour LtCol Johnson was promoted through Private First Class to the rank of Sergeant, deployed to Aviano Air Base Italy to support the Kosovo Campaign, as well as Iwakuni Japan to support a Unit Deployment Program (UDP) and then to Prince Sultan Air Base to support Operation Southern Watch prior to acceptance into the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program in June of 2003.
LtCol Johnson was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May of 2006 after completing his bachelor's degree requirements for a BA in Liberal Arts with a focus on Military and American History from the University of Illinois. The Basic School was his next assignment where he received orders to attend flight school to become a Naval Flight Officer aboard NAS Pensacola. That training was not completed due to medical issues. During this period, LtCol Johnson was promoted to First Lieutenant and then re-designated a Logistics Officer and assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 17, in May of 2009.
In February of 2010 LtCol Johnson was deployed to Afghanistan as the Deputy Logistics Officer, G4, 1st Marine Logistics Group to support OEF 10.1 and 10.2. During this deployment he was promoted to Captain and appointed the Logistics Officer of 9th Engineer Support Battalion. This was a successful tour for Captain Johnson who redeployed to Camp Pendleton in February of 2011. Following the deployment, Captain Johnson was assigned as the S-4 of CLR-17 and then was accepted to resident Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico beginning in July of 2012.
LtCol Johnson completed EWS in May of 2013 and was assigned to 2nd Bn 9th Marines aboard Camp Lejeune as the Battalion Logistics Officer. In Sept of 2014 2nd Bn 9th Marines was deployed in support of UDP to Okinawa Japan. Following that deployment 2/9 was deactivated. Once 2nd Bn 9th Marines was successfully deactivated in April of 2015, LtCol Johnson was assigned to 6th Marine Regiment to serve as their Logistics Officer (S-4 Officer).
LtCol Richard Johnson was promoted to Major in July of 2016 and assigned to Logistics Operations School and was given company command of Motor Transport Maintenance Instructional Company aboard Camp Johnson. During this tour LtCol Johnson worked to create efficiency in the wait times and completion totals of Marines who would become 3521 Motor Transport Mechanics, restructuring the training pipeline allowing over 300 more Marines to receive the 3521 MOS the following year.
LtCol Johnson was assigned to 3d MEB G-4 in Okinawa Japan in 2018 following his tour with Logistics Operations School. LtCol Johnson served with 3d MEB G-4 as the Plans Officer working planning and execution of all 3d MEB exercises and planned operations. In 2019 Major Johnson completed his Masters of Art in Leadership with Marshall University. As a Logistics Planner with 3d MEB, LtCol Johnson was responsible for logistics planning, set-up and support of more than 30 training sites during five separate exercises and was intimately involved in Logistics Plans for all Pacific Theater Operations Plans then selected for promotion to his current rank.
LtCol Johnson was assigned to Marine Detachment Fort Leonard Wood as the Executive Officer in 2021 following his tour with 3d MEB. During this tour, LtCol Johnson supported all staff functions ensuring training requirements were met to graduate over 18,000 Marines in 18 different specific Military Occupational Specialties. Following this tour, LtCol Johnson was assigned as the Executive Officer of Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow California.
LtCol Johnson was assigned to Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California as the Executive Officer in July 2024 then was designated on the Command Screening Board as the I-I, CLB 453, his current duty assignment.
LtCol Richard Johnson's personal awards include Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal with 3 gold stars and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.