Redstone Rocket:
The Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command did not have to go far to find its newest civilian leader.
James B. Johnson Jr., SMDC/ARSTRAT’s acting deputy to the commander since September, was permanently named as the command’s most senior civilian Dec. 9. In this role, he provides leadership for the Army’s space and missile defense programs, acquisition, personnel and resource management. He is one of only two three-star equivalent civilians on Redstone Arsenal.
“I am so honored to have been selected,” Johnson said. “To everyone in the command, I want to be your advocate and do what I can to help you achieve the success you want to achieve.
“I see my job as enabling the CG to focus on the operational aspects of the command. I focus more on the supporting side, making sure we get our budget right, personnel right, contracting in place and protecting our command’s assets. At the end of the day my priority is making sure the entire command is laser focused on taking care of our Soldiers.”
Johnson previously served as the director of the SMDC/ARSTRAT Future Warfare Center. In this position, he outlined general program policy to support the Future Warfare Center’s primary roles in bringing space and missile defense capabilities and concepts to the war fighter. Included in the Future Warfare Center are the Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate, the Training and Doctrine Command Capability Managers for Space and Missile Defense, and the Directorate for Training and Doctrine.
“All of my previous positions gave me experience dealing with challenges,” Johnson said. “I learned by making mistakes and doing things better the next time around. I really feel having a broad experience gives one an enterprise view of the Army, which helps in decision making, focusing on what’s best for the Soldier, the taxpayer and not just what’s best for the command. That experience helped prepare me to take on this role.”
Johnson was appointed to the Senior Executive Service Jan. 7, 2007. He served as director of the Developmental Test Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; and as executive director for the Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment Activity at the Aviation and Missile Command.
In addition to his own experiences, Johnson spoke about how SMDC leaders have done a good job building the bench and preparing other Soldier and civilian leaders to step up.
“This command’s contribution to the Army is providing trained and equipped Soldiers in the areas of space and missile defense,” he said. “Right now, those are extremely critical areas for the Army and the joint force…
