George Johnson

George Johnson, MD, is a board-certified preventive medicine physician with 28 years of experience in aerospace medicine, public health, deployment medicine, human performance optimization, and healthcare policy. He retired as a highly decorated U.S. Air Force Colonel after 27 years of service. His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters. Dr. Johnson frequently deployed in defense of the United States, including to Southwest Asia in 1991 in support of Operation DESERT STORM and in 2004 in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. During his Air Force career, Dr. Johnson served as a flight surgeon, an instructor at the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, a squadron commander, a group commander, and a deputy medical center commander. He culminated his career as the Director of Force Readiness and Health Assurance for Force Health Protection and Readiness Programs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. In this role, he was directly responsible for the health and medical support of all military members in deployed environments and contingency operations. He coordinated policies and directives with senior healthcare leaders across the three services, the Coast Guard, the reserve component, Veterans Affairs, and the civilian healthcare community. He also collaborated with allied partners to establish reciprocal healthcare agreements and facilitate data collection and sharing. Additionally, he analyzed laws, policies, and directives and reported activities to congressional committees. Col. Johnson was born in Pleasant Hill, California. He has been married to Lynne Johnson for over 30 years and has two daughters, Rebecca and Courtney.