Colonel Clifton Johnson is Deputy Commander of Operations at 27 Special Operations Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico providing combat ready forces to joint force commanders around the world. The 27th Special Operations Wing provides unconventional airpower, any time, any where. The men and women of the operational squadrons perform a variety of specialized airpower missions including precision strike, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, battlefield mobility, helicopter aerial refueling, and other specialized combat support missions. As the Deputy Commander of Operations, he directs training and readiness for ten squadrons operating various special operations aircraft including the CV-22 Osprey, AC-130J Ghost Rider II, MC-130J Commando II, and MQ-9 Reaper.
Colonel Johnson commissioned through Air Force Reserve
Officer Training Corps at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia in June 2005. He completed the Air and Space Basic Course in August 2005. He graduated from pilot training in November 2007. He is a command pilot with 20 years of active service and over 3,000 flight hours. Prior to his current position, he was the Chief of Programming, Force Structure, and Basing Division, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia
2005 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2010 Master of Education, Trident University, by correspondence
2016 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2017 Master of Public Administration, Harvard University, Massachusetts
2017 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia
2023 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
ASSIGNMENTS
- August 2005 – April 2006, Action Officer, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
- April 2006 – June 2007, Student Pilot, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, Texas
- June 2007 – November 2007, Student, T-1A Pilot Instructor Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
- November 2007 – February 2009, T-1A Instructor Pilot, Flight Safety Officer, Chief Flight Scheduler, and
Flight Unit Standardization and Evaluation Monitor, 86th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
- February 2009 – December 2010, Wing Executive Officer & T-1A Instructor Pilot, 47th Flying Training Wing,
Laughlin AFB, Texas
- December 2010 – April 2011, Student, C-130 Aircraft Commander Initial Qualification, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
- April 2011 – December 2011, AC-130H Student Co-Pilot, 551st Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB,
New Mexico
- December 2011 – June 2014, AC-130H Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Chief Executive Officer, Chief of
Training, and Assistant Flight Commander, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, New Mexico
- June 2014 – June 2016, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, followed by Chief of AC-130J Requirements, Air
Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida
- June 2016 – June 2017, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Scholar, Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of
Government, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- June 2017 – July 2019, Joint Working Group Lead and Global Force Management Action Officer, Operations
Directorate, J3, Joint Staff, Norfolk, Virginia
- July 2019 – December 2021, Operations Officer, then Commander, 73d Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt
Field, Florida (April 2021 – August 2021, Commander, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component,
- December 2021 – June 2022, Special Assistant to the Commander, 24th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field,
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- June 2022 – June 2023, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
- June 2023 – June 2025, Chief, Programs, Force Structure, and Basing Division, Air Force Special Operations
Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida
- June 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander of Operations, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon Air Force Base,
New Mexico
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2017 – June 2019, Joint Working Group Lead and Global Force Management Action Officer, Operations
Directorate, J3, Joint Staff, Norfolk, Virginia, as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: Over 3,000, including more than 760 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: AC-130J, AC-130H, C-130E/H, T-1A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 1, 2005
First Lieutenant June 1, 2007
Captain June 1, 2009
Major December 1, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2018
Colonel April 1, 2024
Current as of [Sept 2025]