Col Robert Johnston is the Commander, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. The 27 SOW plans, postures and executes precision strike, specialized mobility, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions with special operations forces. The wing is organized into four groups and 24 squadrons equipped with specialized aircraft that includes the AC-130J, CV-22, MC-130J, MQ-9, PC-12 and U-28.
Raised in Copperas Cove, TX; Col Johnston earned his commission from the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in 2001. Col Johnston is a Command Pilot with over 4,300 flight hours in the C-130, MC-130H, and MC-130J. He has flown combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, humanitarian and contingency operations in support of special operations, and commanded at the squadron level. Prior to his current position, Col Johnston served as Commander at the Air Commando Development Center. The ACDC is the AFSOC focal point for SOF operational and institutional development, as well as certification, validation, verification (CV2) for all AFSOC units of action.
Col Johnston is married to the former Margaret Venable of Killeen, TX. They have two daughters, AnneMarie and Alessandra.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science degree, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
2007 Master of Arts degree in Education, Trident University International, Cypress, CA
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2013 Master of Arts degree in Military Operational Art/Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2013 Joint Forces Staff College, NSA Hampton Roads, VA
2016 Air War College, by correspondence
2021 Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2001 – December 2001, Airfield Operations Staff Officer, 72 OSS, Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), OK
2. December 2001 – July 2002, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 33 FTS, Vance AFB, OK
3. July 2002 – February 2003, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, VT-31, NAS Corpus Christi, TX
4. February 2003 – August 2003, Student, C-130E Initial Qualification Training, Little Rock AFB, AR
5. October 2003-April 2004, Student, MC-130H Initial Qualification Training, Kirtland AFB, NM
6. April 2004 – May 2008, Chief of Plans, Evaluator Pilot, 1st Special Operations Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
7. July 2008 – June 2012, Assistant Operations Officer, 7th Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK
8. June 2012 – June 2013, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
9. July 2013 – January 2016, Program Analyst, J8 United States Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, FL
10. January 2016 – July 2016, Student, MC-130J Initial Qualification Training, Kirtland AFB, NM
11. July 2016 – June 2018, Operations Officer, 9th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
12. June 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 9th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
13. July 2020 – June 2021, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
14. June 2021 – June 2022, Deputy Chief of Actions Division, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Pentagon, VA
15. June 2022 – June 2023, SOCOM Liaison Network, USSOCOM/DARPA, Arlington, VA
16. July 2023 – June 2024, Commander, Air Commando Development Center, Hurlburt Field, FL
17. July 2024 – Present, Commander, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon AFB, NM
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2013 – Jan 2016, Fixed Wing Program Analyst, USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, FL, as a Major
2. June 2021 – June 2022, Deputy Division Chief, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington DC, as a Lieutenant Colonel
3. June 2022 – June 2023, SOCOM Liaison, USSOCOM, DARPA, Arlington, VA as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 4365
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-44, C-130E, MC-130H and MC-130J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 11, 2001
First Lieutenant May 30, 2003
Captain May 30, 2005
Major July 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2016
Colonel July 1, 2022
(Current as of July 2024)