John P. Johnson, Ph.D.
University President
B.A., M.S., Florida State University
Ph.D., Kent State University
Dr. Johnson’s academic career spans 35 years. He has served as a university president, provost and chief academic officer, college dean, and academic department chair. His appointments have included professorships with tenure at four universities. Prior to being appointed as President and CEO of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in November 2005, Dr. Johnson served as their Provost and Chief Academic Officer. He held the same position at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. He served as a college dean for 13 years at the Medical University of South Carolina and at Northern Kentucky University.
Dr. Johnson is an effective and caring teacher with a strong commitment to excellence in the classroom. He has taught at all levels and has an extensive publication record. His primary areas of research inquiry include speech and hearing science, the neurosciences, aerospace education, and academic leadership. He completed post-doctoral programs of study in academic administration at Texas A&M University in College Station (1984) and at the Budget and Control Board’s Executive Institute in Columbia, South Carolina (1997 – 1998).
Dr. Johnson has developed strong ties with the leaders in the aviation industry, both in the U.S. and abroad. Under his leadership, Embry-Riddle became the only university to join the U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program. He has been effective in expanding ERAU’s global presence. In addition to its two residential campuses, ERAU now has over 130 centers and commuter campuses in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Dr. Johnson served as the Honorary National Chairman of the Silver Wings Society (2008 – 2009). For his leadership in aerospace education and research he received the Jimmy Doolittle Fellowship Award from the U.S. Air force Association (2007).
Under his stewardship, ERAU was a recipient of the prestigious Collier Trophy for the development and implementation of ADS-B technology (2008). Working with the FAA and industry leaders like Lockheed Martin and Boeing, Dr. Johnson has positioned the university as one of the nation’s leaders in the development of next generation air traffic management technology. He serves as a member of the Governing Board of the Flight Safety Foundation. Dr. Johnson has given position papers on the future of aerospace education and our national defense. In 2008, he began laying the groundwork for the development of a multi-university Space Transportation Research and Development Institute, to enhance the commercialization of space exploration.
Dr. Johnson has an excellent service record and has been effective in raising extramural funds from local, state, and federal agencies, businesses, and foundations. He has been very successful in developing new degree programs of study, increasing enrollment, enhancing research and scholarly productivity, and in improving the internal climate and level of collegiality between the faculty and administration at several institutions.
On a personal level, John married Maurie Rodgers, a native Texan, in 2000. The second marriage for both, they have seven grown children and eight grand children, residing in California, Texas, South Carolina, and Florida. John grew up as the son of a career Army Officer and lived abroad extensively. He enjoys playing golf, boating, traveling, flying and giving back to his community by serving on a number of boards and participating in civic organizations.
