Retired Air Force General Paul Johnson joins Grant Thornton Public Sector
By Loren Blinde
November 12, 2017
Major General Paul Johnson will join Alexandria, VA-based Grant Thornton Public Sector as a senior strategic advisor for the defense and intelligence community, the company announced November 10. A retired Air Force two-star general, Johnson will provide business development and strategy support across the practice’s Security & Defense business.
Johnson has more than 25 years of senior executive experience in numerous strategic and operational military and staff positions. Most recently, he was director of operational capability requirements for the United States Air Force (USAF), where he specialized in planning and capability development while dovetailing with R&D, strategy, resourcing, and acquisition activities. He represented the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the 28-nation Military Committee at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, conducting negotiations across an array of geostrategic and capability issues. Previously, he served as Commander, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, and Commander, 355th Fighter Wing.
“During my last military assignment at the Pentagon, I witnessed how the pressure to reduce headcount limits the intellectual bandwidth available to tackle persistent challenges,” said Johnson. “It’s a great time to join Grant Thornton as it expands its commitment to helping the Department of Defense and broader intelligence community identify and implement solutions to those thorny problems.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Paul to Grant Thornton after his more than three decades of service in uniform,” said Carlos Otal, national managing partner of Grant Thornton Public Sector. “The addition of Paul’s leadership and expertise to our team will greatly expand the value and support we’re able to deliver to defense and intelligence agencies and help to further their critical mission of protecting our country.”
During his command tour in Afghanistan, Johnson was responsible for the execution of six distinct missions employing nine weapons systems and more than 125 aircraft, as well as the morale, welfare and protection of airmen across five locations throughout the country. He also led the establishment of the first charter school on a USAF installation. He completed four combat tours, three in command positions.
Johnson received a master’s degree in military arts and sciences from Command and General Staff College, a master’s degree in strategic studies from Air University and a bachelor’s degree from Murray State University. He is a USAF Weapons School graduate and instructor. He also studied at the Center for Creative Leadership and completed Seminar XXI at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Source: Grant Thornton
